Continental Intelligent Transportation Systems has announced that effective January, Satish Khatu, former IBM general manager, global industrial sector, Helmut Matschi, member of the Continental executive board and head of the interior division, and Samir Salman, CEO NAFTA Continental automotive divisions, will be appointed as members of its new advisory board.

Following the announcement, Helmut Matschi said, “With the decisions made today, the advisory board of Continental Intelligent Transportation Systems is now complete and well structured. This is a further step in our mission to significantly improve mobility and safety by forging strong partnerships in both the tech and automotive realm and leading Continental Intelligent Transportation Systems on into a sustainably successful future.” Matschi added, “in Satish Khatu we have a new advisory board member whose expertise and experience fit perfectly to our mission. His understanding of the automotive industry and information technology along with his unique global perspective will be extremely valuable for ITS.”

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Khatu is a former IBM general manager, Global Industrial Sector and was responsible for IBM’s business globally for key manufacturing industries including automotive, electronics, and aerospace. During his successful career at IBM, Satish Khatu held key US leadership positions in sales, finance, strategy and services. He also managed IBM’s Services business across growth markets in Asia, Latin America, Africa, Middle East, Central and Eastern Europe; and led IBM’s business in India and Southeast Asia. Khatu holds a Bachelor of Technology from IIT, Mumbai as well as a Master in Engineering from University of Cincinnati and M.B.A. in Marketing.

Matschi studied at Regensburg University of Applied Sciences, Germany, where he obtained a degree in communications technology. He had a long career within Siemens. With the acquisition of Siemens VDO by Continental in 2007, Matschi took over the position as head of the division interior. In August 2009, Matschi was appointed as a member of the executive board of Continental.

Samir Salman earned a mechanical engineering degree and a master of business degree from the University of Giessen in Germany. He joined Continental in 1998. Salman is currently chief executive officer, NAFTA Region and coordinates the North American activities of the three automotive divisions – Chassis & Safety, Powertrain and Interior, and central functions such as engineering, finance, quality, information technology, human resources, purchasing, communications and marketing. He is also senior vice president of vehicle dynamics (VED) business unit.

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