The Bosch Group has appointed Steffen Berns as Managing Director of Bosch and President of Bosch Group in India, effective January 1, 2013.
Berns takes over from V.K. Viswanathan, who has headed the Bosch India operations for the past five years, the company said in a statement. Viswanathan will retire on on December 31, 2012. The company’s board has appointed him as non-executive Director and Vice-Chairman of the board.
Prior to this role, Berns headed the electronics business of the diesel division and since 2006 has been member on Bosch's Gasoline Systems Division board. Berns, who worked in India from 1996 to 1999, joined the Bosch Group in Stuttgart, Germany, in 1990.
“Bosch in India has an excellent track record with its strong growth, good customer relationships, local development, strong talent base and manufacturing capabilities. We will continue and extend the journey further by strengthening local innovations and will additionally focus more on opportunities in non-automotive business fields, such as power tools, security technology, thermo technology and capital goods,” Berns said.
On assuming senior responsibility in Robert Bosch, Dr Manfred Duernholz, would resign as joint managing director of the company from the close of office hours on December 31, 2012.
The company release also announced the cessation of Soumitra Bhattacharya as additional director to Dr B Bohr. Bhattacharya has been appointed as additional director and joint managing director of the company.
The board also appointed Bhaskar Bhat, Managing Director, Titan Industries Ltd, as independent director of the company effective January 1, 2013.