Continental AG has appointed Rohit Markan as Executive Vice President Industrial Solutions for the Asia Pacific region within its ContiTech group sector. The appointment took effect on 17 November 2025 and places Markan in charge of managing industrial operations across key markets including India, China, Australia and New Zealand, Japan, Korea and South East Asia. The company said in a press release that he will report directly to Philip Nelles, head of the ContiTech group sector.
Markan will be based at ContiTech’s Singapore location and will focus on optimising organisational structures and processes across product groups and customer industries. He will also serve on ContiTech’s newly formed Executive Management Committee, which is tasked with shaping the future direction of the group sector as it prepares to become an independent entity in 2026. He succeeds Hannes Friederichsen, who has retired after several years with the company.
The APAC business area covers ContiTech’s industrial portfolio in the region, including rubber and plastics-based products such as hoses, conveyor belts, drive belts and air springs supplied to a range of industries. ContiTech stated that Markan’s role will involve further developing this industrial solutions business in an area identified as strategically important for Continental.
Markan brings more than 28 years of experience across multiple industries and geographies. The press release noted that his background includes leadership roles in sales, marketing, finance, manufacturing, project leadership, innovation management and profit and loss management. His previous positions include managing director of Roquette India Private Limited, Senior Vice President Sales for Roquette Asia Pacific and Global Marketing Manager for Solar Solutions at Dow Chemicals. Most recently, he served as Global Head of Sales for the pharma business at Roquette Asia Pacific Pte Ltd.
“Rohit Markan brings a broad portfolio of experience and perspectives from different regions, multiple industries and diverse functions which he gained in various management roles. He is the right person to further develop our industrial business activities in this important region,” said Philip Nelles, Executive Board member for ContiTech. “Rohit has repeatedly demonstrated the ability to drive change while at the same time inspiring his teams. We are delighted to have him on board as we are working together to lead ContiTech into its next chapter as an independent company.”
Commenting on his appointment, Markan said: “I am delighted to become part of ContiTech, a company with such a long tradition and so much potential. I am eager to bring in my expertise and leadership from past experiences in Asia Pacific, thus making a contribution for harnessing the companies’ potential in one of the most important growth regions for Continental.”
Continental’s ContiTech group sector develops and supplies rubber and plastics-based products and systems for industrial and automotive applications across global markets.
