MANN+HUMMEL Group today announced that Nic Zerbst will become the company’s new president and chief operations officer (COO) and also a member of the management board, effective Feb. 1, 2019. He succeeds Hansjörg Herrmann, who is leaving the management board and the company at his own request on Nov. 30, to pursue a new professional challenge.

The South African Zerbst was most recently vice president, global operations at Eberspächer Exhaust Technology GmbH & Co. KG in Esslingen/Germany. Previously, he worked for Faurecia and Ford.

“We are delighted that in Nic Zerbst we have found a managing director who, thanks to his expertise, will further develop the production strategy in our plants worldwide with regard to the respective core competencies,” said Thomas Fischer, chairman of the supervisory board of MANN+HUMMEL.

Herrmann was responsible for worldwide production at the approximately 40 MANN+HUMMEL plants. He has been with MANN+HUMMEL since 2011 and has been a member of the nanagement board since December 2015.

Fischer expressed his regret at Herrmann’s departure: “On behalf of the shareholders, the management and our employees, I would like to thank Hansjörg Herrmann for his trusting cooperation. We regret his departure and wish him all the best and much success for his professional and personal future.”