Munich, April 11, 2025 – During the past days TRATON took the next step in its transformation towards one even stronger group: with the Organizational Go-live for Group R&D, around 8,000 engineering colleagues began working in a newly defined structure.
Starting May 1st, Kai Feuerherdt will take over the position as Head of Group HR R&D at TRATON. In this role he will be responsible for all HR related matters within the new global R&D function. His experience especially in the transformation of organizations promises a major advantage for TRATON. Since April 2024 he has been working as Chief People Management Officer (CPMO) at Brose Sitech Group and as Labor Director at Brose Sitech GmbH. Prior to that, he held various positions in Human Resources within the Volkswagen Group, contributing to its continuous development. For example, he enabled the transformation of VW Navarra, S.A. in Pamplona, Spain and negotiated the future pact in his role as Director of HR.
Dr. Michael Jackstein, CFO and CHRO TRATON GROUP: “With Kai Feuerherdt, we are strengthening our HR team at a central point to successfully drive forward the transformation of Group R&D in a crucial phase. We have found an experienced manager for this task who will provide important impulses with his expertise.”
Niklas Klingenberg, Head of TRATON Group R&D, adds: “Our goal with Group R&D is to accelerate innovation and fully leverage the collective strengths of the TRATON GROUP – enabling the brands to deliver high-quality, scalable solutions more efficiently. Therefore, I am very thankful for all the progress we have made with the set-up of the new organization. Now I am looking very forward to really working within the new structures – and with a HR organization set up to support our journey at its best.”
Kai Feuerherdt, new Head of Group HR R&D at TRATON, „I am looking forward to driving the transformation together with the colleagues. I am confident that by this we will make the TRATON GROUP an even more attractive employer.”
In his new role at TRATON Kai Feuerherdt succeeds Erik Barkman, who will take up a new leading role in building up the Service Operations within People & Culture at Scania CV AB. As Head of Group HR R&D, Erik Barkman played a pivotal role, from the very beginning, in laying the foundation and enabling the build-up of a group-wide R&D organization that serves all brands in the TRATON GROUP.
“Erik Barkman has made a significant contribution to building the HR function for our R&D organization – particularly through the development of the Group R&D HR structure, including the build-up of local HR Business Partner organizations. Particularly remarkable is his ability to navigate challenging situations with openness and a strong focus on solutions. He has played a key role in constructively shaping change and fostering a shared understanding across organizational and national boundaries. We extend our sincere thanks for his contributions, “ says Dr. Michael Jackstein.
Contact
Sacha Klingner
Head of External Communications
T +49 170 2250016
sacha.klingner@traton.com
Matthias Karpstein
Business Media Relations
T +49 172 3603071
matthias.karpstein@traton.com
TRATON SE
Hanauer Str. 26 / 80992 Munich / Germany
www.traton.com
With its brands Scania, MAN, International, and Volkswagen Truck & Bus, TRATON SE is the parent and holding company of the TRATON GROUP and one of the world’s leading commercial vehicle manufacturers. The Group’s product portfolio comprises trucks, buses, and light-duty commercial vehicles. “Transforming Transportation Together. For a sustainable world.”: this intention underlines the Company’s ambition to have a lasting and sustainable impact on the commercial vehicle business and on the Group’s commercial growth.