FORVIA HELLA strengthens leadership team with appointment of Juan Manuel Mollá as Managing Director Lighting

Effective 1 March 2026, Juan Manuel Mollá will join the Management Board and take over responsibility for FORVIA HELLA’s global Lighting business. (Picture: FORVIA HELLA)

(IN BRIEF) FORVIA HELLA has appointed Juan Manuel Mollá as Managing Director Lighting and member of its Management Board, effective 1 March 2026, with responsibility for the company’s global Lighting business, while interim lead Bernard Schäferbarthold will step down on 15 February 2026. Mollá brings over 30 years of automotive industry experience, most recently as CCO of Marelli, and has been praised for his strategic insight and customer-focused approach. Both the Shareholder Committee and Mollá emphasized the importance of agility, innovation, and global collaboration as FORVIA HELLA navigates a rapidly transforming automotive market and continues to advance its lighting technologies.

(PRESS RELEASE) LIPPSTADT, 4-Feb-2026 — /EuropaWire/ — From 1 March 2026, Juan Manuel Mollá will join the Management Board of FORVIA HELLA and take over responsibility for the company’s global Lighting business. His appointment follows a decision by the Shareholder Committee of HELLA GmbH & Co. KGaA, which has named him Managing Director Lighting and a full member of the Management Board. Until his arrival, the Business Group Lighting has been led on an interim basis by Bernard Schäferbarthold, who will step down from the Management Board on 15 February 2026.

Mollá brings more than three decades of experience in the automotive sector, having held senior leadership positions at a range of international suppliers and manufacturers throughout his career. Most recently, he served as Chief Commercial Officer at Marelli, where he was responsible for driving commercial strategy and strengthening customer relationships across key markets. His background combines technical understanding, strategic management, and global industry insight, positioning him well to lead FORVIA HELLA’s lighting operations at a time of significant transformation in the automotive industry.

Dr.-Ing. Wolfgang Ziebart, Chairman of the Shareholder Committee, welcomed the appointment, emphasizing that Mollá’s expertise and market knowledge would be instrumental in shaping the future of the Lighting business. He highlighted that Mollá’s strategic perspective and deep understanding of customer needs and international markets would support FORVIA HELLA in navigating a rapidly evolving and highly competitive environment. The Shareholder Committee expressed confidence that he would not only continue but also accelerate the development of the Lighting division.

In his first statement following the appointment, Juan Manuel Mollá acknowledged the trust placed in him and outlined his priorities for the role. He noted that the automotive industry is undergoing profound changes driven by electrification, digitalization, and new mobility concepts. While these shifts present challenges, he emphasized that they also create significant opportunities for innovation and growth. His focus will be on ensuring that FORVIA HELLA responds with agility, strengthens its competitive position, and continues to develop advanced lighting solutions that are both technologically sophisticated and commercially viable.

Mollá also underscored the importance of the global Lighting team, describing the expertise of FORVIA HELLA’s employees as the division’s greatest asset. He expressed his commitment to working closely with colleagues worldwide to advance technological leadership, meet evolving market demands, and shape the future direction of the Business Group Lighting.

ABOUT FORVIA HELLA

FORVIA HELLA is a listed international automotive supplier. As a company of the FORVIA Group, FORVIA HELLA stands for high performance lighting technology and vehicle electronics and, with the Lifecycle Solutions Business Group, also covers a broad service and product portfolio for the spare parts and workshop business as well as for manufacturers of special vehicles. With currently around 35,000 employees at over 125 locations, the company is active worldwide and generated adjusted sales of €8.1 billion in the fiscal year 2024. www.hella.com

ABOUT FORVIA

FORVIA, a global automotive technology supplier, comprises the complementary technology and industrial strengths of Faurecia and HELLA. With over 150,000 people, including more than 15,000 R&D engineers across 40+ countries, FORVIA provides a unique and comprehensive approach to the automotive challenges of today and tomorrow. Composed of 6 business groups and a strong IP portfolio of over 13,000 patents, FORVIA is focused on becoming the preferred innovation and integration partner for OEMs worldwide. In 2024, the Group achieved consolidated sales of €27 billion. FORVIA SE is listed on the Euronext Paris market under the FRVIA mnemonic code and is a component of the CAC SBT 1.5° indice. FORVIA aims to be a change maker committed to foreseeing and making the mobility transformation happen. www.forvia.com

Daniel MORFELD
Press Officer
+49 (0) 2941 38 7566
daniel.morfeld@forvia.com

Riccarda KIRWALD
Press Officer Lifecyle Solutions,
Corporate & Finance
+49 (0) 170 32 777 43
riccarda.kirwald@forvia.com

SOURCE: FORVIA HELLA