Mann+Hummel, a leading global expert for filtration technology, said it has appointed Kurk Wilks as the new President and CEO as of January 1, 2020.

He succeeds Werner Lieberherr, who left the world market leader for filtration in October by mutual agreement.

Wilks will manage the group together with Executive Vice President and Chief Finance Officer Emese Weissenbacher and Chief Operating Officer Nic Zerbst.

He has been with the company for around 20 years and is managing the automotive original equipment business since 2019, and will continue to do so, said the company in a statement.

Wilks has previously worked in a variety of roles within Mann+Hummel in the US. The married father of two kids joined the company as a sales manager and worked in various other posts at the company before being named President and General Manager Original Equipment.

Wilks has a degree in accounting and an MBA from Walsh College in Michigan, US.

On the appointment, Wilks said: "I’ve been able to familiarize myself with all the divisions of Mann+Hummel over the past years. I am looking forward to tackling my greatest challenge yet together with Emese Weissenbacher and Nic Zerbst."

“Thanks to our employees and our strong brands, we are well positioned in all business units. Now we need to build on our market-leading position in the filtration sector. I am grateful to the Supervisory Board for the trust they have placed in me and that I will be responsible for providing continuity for this family business,” he added.

Chairman of the Supervisory Board Thomas Fischer expressed delight that the group now had a clear way forward with the new leadership team.

"In Wilks, we have found someone who has already been successfully helping to shape the company for many years, who is determined, embodies our values and has international links, all of which is extremely important in a global company such as Mann+Hummel. I wish the new leadership team every success," he added.

Headquarters in Ludwigsburg, Germany, Mann+Hummel boasts more than 20,000 employees at more than 80 locations across the globe.

The group develops solutions for motor cars, industrial applications, clean air and the sustainable use of water. It also manufactures key products including air cleaner systems, intake manifold systems, liquid filter systems, plastic components, filter media, cabin filters, industrial filters and membrane filters.-TradeArabia News Service