Elmar Deegener, Robert Houston assume responsibility for new product business units at Johnson Controls
Leadership team announced for Special Seats, Metals and Mechanisms roles
Burscheid, Germany - 13 July 2011. Johnson Controls, a global leader in automotive seating, interiors and electronics, recently completed the acquisition of German automotive suppliers C. Rob. Hammerstein (CRH), Keiper and Recaro Automotive. The acquired companies will be integrated into two new Johnson Controls product business units, Special Seats and Metals and Mechanisms. The Special Seats business unit focuses on complete automotive and commercial vehicle seats and will be led by Elmar Deegener. The Metals and Mechanisms business unit is comprised of metal seating components and structures as well as mechanisms and will be led by Robert Houston.
Special Seats represents a new product business unit for Johnson Controls. It is comprised of the Recaro Automotive seat business and the Keiper commercial vehicle seat business. Deegener, 56, will assume responsibility for integrating and shaping the new product business unit. He most recently served as CEO for Keiper since 2005. Prior to that, he was managing director of Keiper. He joined Keiper Recaro in 1982 as a design engineer, and also led the entire seat engineering department.
In the new product business unit Metals and Mechanisms, the company will combine all competencies of Johnson Controls, CRH and Keiper related to metal seating components and structures as well as mechanisms for front and rear seat systems. In his new role, Houston, 51, will be responsible for the integration and leadership of the product business unit. Prior to this, Houston was CEO and Managing Director of CRH since 1997 and was a family shareholder. Prior to that, he worked for a consulting company and Audi AG.
Deegener and Houston will report to Johannes Roters, group vice president and general manager, Seating Components at Johnson Controls Automotive Experience.
For more information, please contact:
Johnson Controls GmbH
Automotive Experience
Industriestraße 20-30
51399 Burscheid
Germany
Ulrich Andree
Tel.: +49 2174 65-4343
Fax: +49 2174 65-3219
E-mail: ulrich.andree@jci.com
About Johnson Controls
Johnson Controls is a global diversified technology and industrial leader serving customers in over 150 countries. Our 142,000 employees create quality products, services and solutions to optimize energy and operational efficiencies of buildings; lead-acid automotive batteries and advanced batteries for hybrid and electric vehicles; and interior systems for automobiles. Our commitment to sustainability dates back to our roots in 1885, with the invention of the first electric room thermostat. Through our growth strategies and by increasing market share we are committed to delivering value to shareholders and making our customers successful.
About Johnson Controls Automotive Experience
Johnson Controls is a global leader in automotive seating, overhead systems, door and instrument panels, and interior electronics. We support all major automakers in the differentiation of their vehicles through our products, technologies and advanced manufacturing capabilities. With 200 locations worldwide, we are where our customers need us to be. Consumers have enjoyed the comfort and style of our products, from single components to complete interiors. With our global capability we supply more than 30 million cars per year.