A new CEO for Forvia
Martin Fischer succeeds Patrick Koller at the head of French automotive supplier Forvia from 1 March 2025.
The automotive world is experiencing a few upheavals as 2024 draws to a close. Following the departure of Carlos Tavares from the Stellantis group on December 1, Patrick Koller announced on December 3his departure from the automotive supplier Forvia. He will step down as CEO on 1 March 2025 and will be succeeded by Martin Fischer, a former member of the executive committee of automotive supplier ZF. For now, he has been appointed deputy managing director from 6 December 2024, in order to facilitate the transition.
“Patrick Koller joined Faurecia in 2006, was appointed deputy managing director of the group at the beginning of 2015 and managing director in 2016. Since then, he has successfully led the company’s strategic transformations, culminating in the creation of Forvia, a global technology leader employing more than 150,000 people and generating sales of over €27 billion. Patrick has been instrumental in accelerating Forvia’s development in Asia, particularly in China, to exploit new growth opportunities“, says Michel de Rosen, chairman of the group’s board of directors.
Patrick Koller, 65, will remain on the board of directors until the group’s annual general meeting on 28 May 2025, when his term of office expires. The board of directors will then recommend that shareholders approve the appointment of Martin Fischer as a director.
An automotive sector expert
Martin Fischer, 54, has more than 25 years’ experience in the automotive industry. He has held various management positions with leading automotive suppliers in Europe and the United States. His career in the automotive industry began with Siemens VDO in 1998. He joined German automotive supplier Hella in 2006 and became CEO of its US electronics business in 2007.
In 2014, he joined US OEM BorgWarner, where he led the turbocharger business in Europe and South America before being promoted to the powertrain supplier’s strategic board as boss of powertrain systems.
In his last position, from 2019 to 2024, he served as a member of the ZF group executive committee, overseeing the North and South America regions and heading the company’s quality department.
Martin Fischer is also a member of the board of directors of Sion Power Corporation, a specialist in lithium batteries.
Cover photo: ZF
