GKN Automotive appoints Volker Schwarz as new Chief Information Officer

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Previous positions include IT leadership roles in automotive, energy and defence industries. Volker joins GKN Automotive’s Executive Team.

GKN Automotive, the global leader in drive systems, has appointed Volker Schwarz as its new Chief Information Officer (CIO), with immediate effect.

Reporting directly to GKN Automotive’s Chief Executive Officer, Markus Bannert, Schwarz will join the company’s Executive Team, responsible for driving its global IT strategy. The appointment reflects a new phase in the brand’s commitment to IT investment and development.

Schwarz joins with more than 20 years’ experience in global organisations, having held various technology leadership positions in the automotive, energy and defence industries. His previous role was CIO at Rheinmetall AG, a leading international automotive and defence technology group, where he was responsible for developing the company’s first global IT strategy. He led the creation of a centrally managed IT group function and a major IT in-sourcing programme. Prior to that, Schwarz was CIO at Diethelm Keller Group for three years, and spent 12 years at Baker Hughes where he held a range of leadership roles in both Germany and the US.

He holds a degree in data engineering and electronics and is a Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP).

Markus Bannert, Chief Executive Officer at GKN Automotive, commented: “As a leader in technology, we know that developing and investing in our own technology infrastructure is crucial to our operations and ensuring we build an efficient and secure business. Volker is joining our business at an important and exciting time, and with an extensive international background, he has the right expertise and vision to help lead us into the next chapter of our technology journey.”