German group Continental names Romanian to manage its biggest local business

German automotive group Continental, one of the biggest foreign investors in Romania’s automotive sector, appointed Romanian Sorin Samonid as general manager of its tire factory in Timisoara. Continental Tires Timisoara is one of the group’s strategic units as well as its biggest business in Romania. Sorin Samonid will replace German Klaus Ohlwein, who was named director of Continental Tires Industrial Engineering department in Hanovra. Samonid, 47, graduated from the Timisoara Polytechnic University and has been working for Continental’s tire division since the company started its tire production in Romania in 2000. In the past two years, Samonidhas been production manager at Continental’s factory in Mount Vernon, in the US. The German group has invested over EUR 370 million in its tire factory in Timisoara in the past 15 years, creating some 2,300 jobs. The factory has delivered over 150 million tires since starting production. In 2014, Continental Automotive Products, the local company that operates the tire factory in Timisoara, had a turnover of almost EUR 600 million and a net profit of EUR 134 million. Its results make it Continental’s biggest business in Romania. The group has all of its five automotive divisions present in Romania via seven production facilities, three research and development centers, and a joint-venture. The group has invested some EUR 1 billion in Romania reaching 15,000 employees by the end of 2014. It plans to add another 1,500 new people to its team this year. Continental creates 1,000 jobs new jobs in Romania Continental opens EUR 6.5 mln R&D center in Romania Continental appoints new GM for Sibiu plant in Romania Continental invests EUR 9.5 mln in Romania’s Timisoara editor@romania-insider.com