Martin Klein new sales manager for Central Europe, the Middle East and Africa from Schaeffler

The newly created position is intended to strengthen the leading position of the Automotive Aftermarket division in the long term

Klein is also responsible for Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Benelux

In focus: customer orientation and more efficient sales structures

Martin Klein will take over the management of Schaeffler's Automotive Aftermarket Sales in Central Europe, the Middle East and Africa. The 56-year-old business economist took over the newly created position with effect from April 1, 2021 and is responsible for a total of 44 countries. In addition, Klein is also responsible for the Western Europe region (Germany, Austria, Switzerland and the Benelux countries), which was most recently overseen by Stefan Knaack. Stefan Knaack took over responsibility for the Key Account Office as Vice President Global Key Account Management Schaeffler Automotive Aftermarket last year.

“The composition of the automotive aftermarket will change over the next five to ten years. The aftermarket ecosystem is developing rapidly. It is all the more important that we position ourselves in the future in order to secure our leading position in the aftermarket, ”says Michael Söding, CEO Automotive Aftermarket at Schaeffler. "In Martin Klein we have gained an internationally experienced and customer-oriented sales manager who will manage our business in Central Europe, the Middle East and Africa even more focused and efficiently," adds Sascha Lechner, President Automotive Aftermarket EMEA.

All of Klein's business activities will focus on the sustainable and stable further development of sales activities, which will be even more geared towards customer requirements and needs. “Our goal is to provide our customers with the best possible support for the challenges ahead, such as technological change and digitization. To do this, we are intensifying our collaboration with our customers so that we can better understand their respective requirements and needs and derive tailor-made solutions from them, ”says Martin Klein.

Klein has more than 25 years of international sales and management experience. Most recently, he was managing director and “Executive Vice President” for the Euro-Russia business units at MOTUL Deutschland GmbH, a premium manufacturer of lubricants for automotive and industrial applications, for 17 years. In his new role, he will report directly to Sascha Lechner, President Automotive Aftermarket EMEA.