Bosch names new autos boss, appoints chief digital officer

Hartung will head Bosch's strategy to capitalize on trends such as ride-hailing and car-sharing services.

Robert Bosch is reorganizing its top management, appointing company veterans to head its mobility services and digital services divisions.

Stefan Hartung will become chairman of the supplier's mobility solutions business unit on Jan. 1, 2019, replacing Rolf Bulander, who will retire at the end of the year, Bosch said in .

Bulander, 59, was appointed to run Bosch's auto business in 2015 as the supplier started to adapt its manufacturing-heavy business model to provide more mobility solutions and services. He has worked for Bosch for 30 years.

Bosch said earlier this year it was changing its autos business unit into a mobility solutions division for new transportation technologies, joining the wave of suppliers shifting their organizational structures to brace for massive industry changes  such as autonomous driving, ride-hailing and car-sharing services.

Hartung, 52, has been a member of the supplier's management board since 2013 and currently heads the energy and building technology, industrial technology, connected industry, and other business units.

Bolle becomes chief digital officer and chief technology officer.

Bosch said Michael Bolle will take over the newly created position of chief digital officer and the function of chief technology officer. Bolle, 57, currently heads the corporate research and advance engineering department.

In other changes, Bosch said Rolf Najork, 56, would join its management board. He is CEO of Bosch Rexroth and will take over the industrial technology division from Hartung while remaining head of Bosch Rexroth.

Christian Fischer, 50, will also become a new management board member, joining Bosch from Roland Berger. He will head the energy and building technology division.

Bosch ranks No.1 on the Automotive News .

You can reach Klaus-Dieter Floerecke at kfloerecke@craincom.de.