New head of Hydro Automotive Structures

(Aug. 15, 2001) Norsk Hydro has appointed Michael Schwenzer to take over as President of Hydro Automotive Structures from early September.

Michael Schwenzer

Schwenzer (50) is German and has had an extensive career in the automotive supplier industry. He joins Hydro from the position as Managing Director for Valeo Klimasysteme.

Hydro Automotive Structures is a fast growing division in Hydro's Light Metals Business Area, targeting the automotive industry as its main market. Hydro Automotive Structures has production in Norway, Sweden, the US, France, the UK, Denmark and Germany with sales last year of NOK 2.5 billion and 2,000 employees.

Arvid Moss, currently head of Hydro Automotive Structures, has been appointed Senior Vice President, Strategy and Business Development for Light Metals, and will be a member of the Light Metals Business Area Management Group.

"The automotive market is a particularly important growth area for aluminium, as well as being the fastest growing part of the market. Hydro wants to be a leading player," says executive vice president Jon-Harald Nilsen who has corporate responsibility for the light metal area.

"Our customers are global, which means that this is a very competitive market ," Nilsen points out, adding that the products have to meet high standards.

"I am very pleased that this area will be managed by a person who has a wide international background, including experience in dealing with the automotive industry," Jon-Harald Nilsen says. "Schwenzer will contribute a great deal to the further development of the division."