December 7, 2012: Automotive component major, the Bosch Group has announced the appointment of Dr Steffen Berns as managing director of Bosch Ltd and president of the Bosch Group in India. Dr Berns, who will also lead the operations for the Bosch Group in India, will be taking over on January 1, 2013 from V K Viswanathan who was heading Bosch India operations for the past five years.

A doctorate in Mechanical Engineering, Dr Berns joined the Bosch Group in Stuttgart, Germany in 1990. He has a broad spectrum of technical and managerial experience combined with rich international exposure. He worked in the Bosch Group in India from 1996 to 1999, responsible for OE sales and R&D and later as managing director of Robert Bosch Engineering Business Solutions. Prior to his new role, Dr Berns headed electronics business of the Diesel Division and since 2006 has been member of the Board of Bosch Gasoline Systems Division at its Headquarters in Stuttgart, Germany.

Sharing views on his new role, Dr Berns said “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 the non-automotive business fields -- power tools, security technology, thermo technology and capital goods.”

Congratulating Dr Berns on the appointment V K Viswanathan said, “Steffen brings with him a wide range of experience and expertise in several automotive domains. His prudent insight garnered from his various technical and senior management roles will augur well for Bosch in India. I firmly believe that Bosch in India would continue to grow under his leadership and I would like to extend my best wishes to him on his new role.”

In India, Bosch is a leading supplier of technology and services in the areas of automotive and industrial technology, consumer goods and building technology. Additionally, Bosch also has in India, the largest development centre, outside Germany, for end to end engineering and technology solutions.

The Bosch Group operates in India through six companies: Bosch Ltd, Bosch Chassis Systems India, Bosch Rexroth India, Robert Bosch Engineering and Business Solutions, Bosch Automotive Electronics India, Bosch Electrical Drives India. In India, Bosch set up its manufacturing operation in 1953, which has grown over the years to include 13 manufacturing sites and 7 development and application centres. Bosch Group in India employs over 25,000 associates and generated consolidated revenues of over Rs 11,300 crores in 2011.