• The 53-year-old engineer to take up his position with MAHLE on January 1, 2022
• Arleth has many years of experience in the automotive industry, most recently as Vice Chairman at Webasto SE
• MAHLE Supervisory Board Chairman, Heinz Junker: “Matthias Arleth is a recognized expert in product development with respect to future technologies and a driver of transformation processes”
• Although the Supervisory Board already made the unanimous appointment in March, Matthias Arleth wanted to ensure an orderly transition of his duties at Webasto due to their long-standing relationship

Matthias Arleth will be the new CEO and Chairman of the Management Board of the MAHLE Group. The 53-year-old automotive engineer is joining the company from automotive component supplier Webasto SE, where he was most recently Vice Chairman of the Board of Management. Arleth will take up his position at the helm of MAHLE on January 1, 2022.

He succeeds Dr. Jörg Stratmann, who left the Group on March 31, 2021. Arleth has many years of experience in the automotive industry, both with manufacturers and with component suppliers. “In Matthias Arleth, we are gaining the services of both a recognized expert in product development with respect to future-oriented technologies and a consistent driver of transformation processes, with a view to making MAHLE fit for the future,” said Prof. Dr. Heinz K. Junker, Chairman of the MAHLE Supervisory Board.

Matthias Arleth gained his degree in automotive engineering at Ulm University of Applied Sciences in 1993. He then held positions with various companies including the Volkswagen Group, where he was a development engineer and project manager with SEAT. In 1997, Arleth moved to a subsidiary of MAGNA, becoming Head of Sales and Development and Managing Director. Subsequently, he assumed various management positions within Magna International, the last one being Executive Vice President of Magna E-Car Systems.

In 2011, Arleth joined automotive component supplier Webasto SE as Executive Vice President of the Roof Systems business unit in Europe. From 2013, he was Vice Chairman of the Webasto Sunroofs & Components Management Board. In 2015, Arleth was appointed to the Management Board of Webasto SE, advancing to the position of Vice Chairman of the Management Board in 2017. As COO and CTO, he was in charge of all technical departments from product development through to responsibility for all production plants. Matthias Arleth is a passionate believer in teamwork and perseverance—both inside and outside his job.