Sabrina Soussan Elected Chair of the Supervisory Board; Appointment of CEO Christian Kötz Extended
- Supervisory Board unanimously elects Sabrina Soussan as new chair
- Sabrina Soussan, chair of the Supervisory Board of Continental AG: “Being elected as chair of the Supervisory Board fills me with joy and respect. Continental is strongly positioned as a focused tire manufacturer. I look forward to paving the way for a successful future together with the Supervisory Board and Executive Board”
- Executive Board appointment of CEO Christian Kötz extended ahead of schedule by three years
- Continental CEO Christian Kötz: “I would like to thank the Supervisory Board for placing its trust in me. We will continue to drive forward our success strategy and make Continental even more resilient”
Hanover, Germany, April 30, 2026. Sabrina Soussan (56) has taken over as chair of the Supervisory Board of Continental AG. At its constituent meeting immediately following today’s Annual Shareholders’ Meeting, the Supervisory Board unanimously elected her as its chair. Shareholders had previously elected her to the Supervisory Board as a shareholder representative. Soussan succeeds Wolfgang Reitzle, who stepped down as planned at the end of today’s Annual Shareholders’ Meeting after serving on the Supervisory Board for more than 16 years. “Being elected as chair of the Supervisory Board fills me with joy and respect. I would like to thank the shareholders and the Supervisory Board for placing their trust in me. Continental is strongly positioned as a focused tire manufacturer. I look forward to paving the way for a successful future together with the Supervisory Board and Executive Board,” said Sabrina Soussan.
International top executive at the head of the Supervisory Board
In Sabrina Soussan, Continental has gained a Supervisory Board chair who will be able to guide the company’s strategic realignment based on extensive industry expertise. The German-French top executive brings more than 25 years of experience in the automotive and transportation sectors and has a strong track record in company transformations. Her career includes serving as CEO of Siemens Mobility as well as holding senior positions at Continental itself. Most recently she was CEO and chair of the French SUEZ Group. She is also a member of the Shareholders’ Committee at Henkel and is standing for election as a member of the Board of Directors of Stadler Rail in Switzerland. Soussan was appointed to the Supervisory Board by the local court in September 2025 and has been a member since that time.
Executive Board appointment of CEO Christian Kötz extended ahead of schedule by three years
At today’s constituent meeting, the Supervisory Board also extended the Executive Board appointment of CEO Christian Kötz ahead of schedule by three years until March 2030, underscoring its confidence in the company’s leadership and strategic direction. “Christian Kötz took the Tires group sector from strength to strength, despite a challenging market environment, and has been instrumental in shaping Continental’s strategic realignment as a focused tire manufacturer. The Supervisory Board is firmly behind him and his Executive Board team, and we look forward to continuing our work together,” emphasized Soussan.
“I would like to thank the Supervisory Board for placing its trust in me. We have proven in recent years that we have the right ingredients for success: top technology in our products, state-of-the-art manufacturing, efficient distribution and a strong brand, supported by a strong team. We will continue to drive forward our success strategy and make Continental even more resilient,” said Kötz.
Christian Kötz has held various roles in Continental’s tire business since 1996. He has been a member of the Executive Board since 2019 and previously led key areas including the replacement business for passenger-car tires (EMEA), the business units for original-equipment and commercial-vehicle tires, as well as global R&D for passenger-car tires. Kötz has been Continental’s CEO since January 1, 2026.
Interview with Sabrina Soussan
Sabrina Soussan (56) took over as chair of the Supervisory Board of Continental AG on April 30, 2026. At its constituent meeting immediately following the 2026 Annual Shareholders’ Meeting, the Supervisory Board unanimously elected her as its chair. The interview was conducted by Vincent Charles, head of Group Communications at Continental.
Click here for the interview
