ZF LIFETEC has appointed Claudia Holtkemper, 57, as Senior Vice President Finance and Chief Financial Officer, effective September 1, 2026. She will also take responsibility for the company’s Information Technology function. The appointment was made by the ZF Group Board of Management. Ms Holtkemper will succeed Ulf Loleit, who is leaving ZF LIFETEC on November 30, 2026, after seven years with the company. Mr Loleit will remain involved in an advisory role during the transition.
Ms Holtkemper joins ZF LIFETEC with extensive experience in finance, controlling and IT. She has held several management positions at Continental and its former automotive division, Aumovio. In her most recent position, she was responsible for Finance, Controlling and IT at Aumovio. Her appointment comes as ZF LIFETEC continues its move towards operational independence following the carve-out of the automotive supplier’s passive safety systems business.
Michael Frick, CFO of ZF Group, thanked Mr Loleit for his contribution and said Holtkemper brings strong operational experience from international business. “With Claudia Holtkemper as his successor, we have appointed a highly accomplished finance executive with extensive operational experience in an international corporate environment. I am convinced that she will play a key role in positioning ZF LIFETEC to further strengthen its international competitiveness and sustainably enhance its profitability,” Mr Frick said.
Rudolf Stark, CEO of ZF LIFETEC, said Loleit had played an important role in establishing the foundations for the organisation’s operational independence. “I am delighted to welcome Claudia Holtkemper to ZF LIFETEC. I am confident that, with her extensive professional and leadership experience, she will successfully lead the Finance function into the future,” Mr Stark said.
Ms Holtkemper said she was looking forward to working with the ZF LIFETEC team as the company enters its next stage of development. “ZF LIFETEC is one of the world’s leading automotive suppliers in passive safety with promising future opportunities. I am excited to work closely with my future colleagues in shaping the company’s next phase of development to further strengthen the company’s financial position and reinforce the foundations for sustainable profitable growth,” she said.
Before joining ZF LIFETEC, Ms Holtkemper built her career across the automotive industry, taking on leadership responsibilities spanning finance and business operations. She brings experience in managing international corporate functions and supporting business transformation.
Mr Loleit has been responsible for the finance function during ZF LIFETEC’s operational carve-out and will support the company during the transition before leaving at the end of November. The leadership change comes at an important stage for the company as it establishes itself as an increasingly independent business focused on passive safety systems. The company supplies technologies designed to improve occupant protection and safety in vehicles.
Ms Holtkemper’s responsibilities will cover both Finance and IT, placing financial management and digital operations under a single leadership structure. ZF LIFETEC said the appointment will support its efforts to strengthen competitiveness and build the financial base needed for sustainable and profitable growth.
