Shaping the future

Wörth/Werther (Germany), August 18, 2020
The Poppe + Potthoff Group bundles its activities in the automotive business, in the Industrial Products division and a new platform dedicated to innovation

P+P wants to shape the future together with its customers. Consequently, an independent business unit has now been formed, dedicated to the goal of turning ideas for new technological applications into marketable products.

The new Innovation + Strategy division is headed by Markus Kerkhoff who was appointed to the P+P management board in June and also heads the Automotive segment with the business units Powertrain Systems and Precision Components.

The 48-year-old engineer previously managed the German business of a major internationally operating automotive supplier. Here he also managed the worldwide engineering of a division with more than 2500 engineers and technicians.

“We are very pleased to have Markus Kerkhoff on our team now”, says Dr. Christian Potthoff-Sewing, main shareholder of Poppe + Potthoff. “With his leadership strength and innovation orientation, he will help us to grow further.

Potthoff-Sewing, as Chairman of the Management Board, heads the Group as well as the Industrial Products division. Co-Manager Christoph Hentzen is responsible for Finance & IT and Shared Services.

The Industrial Products division includes the business units R+W Drive Technology, Precision Steel Tubes, Maschinenbau, Plaschka Precision Milling and Artec Railing Systems, which are managed as profit centers.

Overarching functions such as finance and controlling, IT, HR and purchasing are bundled in Shared Services. In addition, Centers of Excellence are being formed to optimize cross-location cooperation and knowledge exchange.

“With the new organizational structure, we are strengthening the market orientation and flexibility of our business units and at the same time intensifying cooperation as a Group and with our customers – especially in innovations,” said Potthoff-Sewing .