WABCO Appoints New Chief Technology Officer

WABCO Holdings Inc, a leading global supplier of safety technologies,  announced Dr. Christian Brenneke’s promotion as its new Chief Technology Officer (CTO).

Dr. Brenneke will combine his current responsibilities as Vice President, Engineering, with those of the CTO to lead WABCO’s global innovation and advanced product development strategy.

“Technological innovation is at the very heart of WABCO’s top line growth success,” said Jacques Esculier, WABCO Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. “By bringing his extensive commercial, operational and engineering expertise to this role, Dr. Brenneke’s appointment powerfully underlines our continued strategic focus to expand and globalize WABCO’s extensive portfolio of commercial vehicle safety and efficiency technologies.”

WABCO’s technology portfolio includes multiple commercial vehicle industry-firsts, such as anti-lock braking systems, collision mitigation systems, electronic stability control and automated manual transmission controls. In 2017 alone, WABCO invested a record $147 million in product development and engineering and was granted 383 new patents.

WABCO has also invested nearly $30 million in a new Engineering Innovation Center in Hanover, Germany. The innovation center is designed to play a significant role in the development of new solutions that will support the commercial vehicle industry to pave the way towards more connected and automated driving.

Having served for a decade with WABCO, Dr. Brenneke became Vice President of Engineering in October 2015. Prior to this he was Vice President, Braking and Driver Assistance Systems, and held a number of management roles including Global Project Management Leader.

Prior to joining WABCO in 2008, Dr. Brenneke spent several years in various research, development and program management roles within the automotive industry. He holds a graduate degree in electrical engineering, having specialized in mechatronics, as well as a doctorate in engineering, both from Leibniz University in Hanover, Germany. He also earned an M.B.A. degree in general management from the University for Applied Sciences in Hamburg, Germany.

Dr. Brenneke has also been appointed an Executive Officer of the Company. Dr. Brenneke succeeds Dr. Christian Wiehen as CTO. Dr. Wiehen retired in 2017 following a career of nearly 30 years with WABCO.

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