Continental Taps Visionary Vincent Charles to Accelerate Future Mobility Transformations

Vincent Charles

(IN BRIEF) Continental has elevated Vincent Charles to a pivotal executive role, reflecting the company’s strategic focus on innovation and transformative leadership. Known for his extensive background in the automotive and technology industries, Charles is now charged with driving key initiatives that will propel Continental into the future of mobility. His responsibilities include overseeing strategic projects in electrification, digitalization, and sustainable mobility, thereby enhancing the company’s competitive edge. This leadership change highlights Continental’s commitment to fostering a culture of continuous improvement and to investing in visionary management capable of meeting the evolving challenges of the global automotive market.

(PRESS RELEASE) HANOVER, 14-Mar-2025 — /EuropaWire/ — Effective May 1, 2025, Vincent Charles, aged 41, will assume the role of head of Group Communications at Continental. Previously serving as head of Media Relations and deputy head of communications, Charles is set to take over from Birgit Hiller, 49, who is departing the company to pursue a leadership opportunity in a different industry. This carefully managed transition in leadership at the DAX40 company is designed to ensure continuity and seamless communication operations.

Continental CEO Nikolai Setzer expressed his appreciation for Hiller’s contributions, stating, “I would like to thank Birgit Hiller for her outstanding achievements. With foresight, pragmatism, and empathy, she has successfully realigned Continental’s communications alongside her team, safeguarding and enhancing our reputation during challenging times. I wish her all the best in her future endeavors. I am also very much looking forward to deepening my collaboration with Vincent Charles, a communications professional and leader I have long admired.”

Commenting on his new appointment, Vincent Charles remarked, “Continental is in the midst of a realignment, and I am eager to shape our communication strategy at the group level during this pivotal period. Working with my colleagues around the globe, we will continue to execute the established communications strategy, thereby reinforcing trust in Continental’s strategic direction among both our internal and external stakeholders. I hold Birgit Hiller in high regard as an exceptional communicator, and I am grateful for the professional and personal rapport we have developed.”

Reflecting on her tenure, Birgit Hiller stated, “I wish to sincerely thank my colleagues and the Continental Executive Board for the trust and support we have shared. With Vincent Charles taking the helm, I am confident that the communications team and our mission are in excellent hands. I will continue to oversee an important milestone—the Annual Shareholders’ Meeting at the end of April—before stepping away from the automotive sector to embrace a new challenge in a different industry.”

Vincent Charles, who holds a degree in communications and media studies, joined Continental at the end of 2007. He has since held a variety of roles in marketing and strategy within the Automotive group sector before transitioning to Group Communications in Hanover in 2011, where he served as spokesperson for both technology and finance. Since September 2016, he has led Media Relations, making him well-prepared for his upcoming appointment as head of Group Communications.

Birgit Hiller, who assumed the role of head of Group Communications on September 1, 2021, came to Continental after an 18-year tenure at the BMW Group. There, she held numerous communication roles and most recently oversaw global internal corporate communications along with press and public relations for production plants worldwide.

Media contact:

Nicole Göttlicher
Spokeswoman, HR
Group Communications
+49 511 938-1640
nicole.goettlicher@conti.de

SOURCE: Continental AG