DHR International Recruits CEO for Tata Motors
January 21, 2016 – DHR International has recruited Guenter Butschek as managing director and chief executive officer of Tata Motors. Frank Smeekes led the assignment along with Amélie Bonneville, director talent acquisition (Europe), and Lorenz Pestinger, vice president of talent acquisition (Asia-Pacific). The search involved 300 candidates, representing 17 nationalities.
Mr. Butschek will lead all operations of Tata Motors in India and in international markets, including South Korea, Thailand, Indonesia and South Africa.
He joins Tata Motors after his last assignment at Airbus Group where he served as chief operating officer at Airbus and member of the group executive committee. Prior to that, he worked at Daimler AG for more than 25 years in international automotive management, leading functions like production, industrialization and procurement. The last role he held was president and CEO of Beijing Benz Automotive Co. Ltd., a joint venture between Daimler AG and Beijing Automotive Industrial Holding in Beijing.
“Tata Motors is going through an exciting yet challenging phase and Butschek’s appointment comes at an opportune moment. He brings with him rich global experience of growing organizations and developing new markets,” said Cyrus P. Mistry, chairman of Tata Motors.
Tata Motors, a $42 billion organization, is a leading global automobile manufacturer of cars, utility vehicles, buses, trucks and defense vehicles. The company went international in 1961, and they now sell their vehicles in more than 50 countries, employing over 60,000 people worldwide.
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Mr. Smeekes, DHR’s European managing director, represents national and international client companies in transition, non-governmental, public, and private organizations, as well as private equity or venture capital-backed companies. He specializes in senior-executive positions (CEO, COO, president) and board assignments. His clients include Booz Allen, BP, Baker McKenzie, Black and Decker, Diamond Castle, General Motors, Kraft, Lear, National Grid, Novartis, Philips Electronics, Platinum Equity, Philip Morris, Sara Lee, Scotts Company, Siemens, Sun Capital, Tesla, Volkswagen, United Nations and The World Bank.
In recent months DHR has tapped CEOs for a diverse mix of organizations. In November, the firm placed Rick Homans as president and CEO of the Tampa Bay Partnership. The search was completed by David Smith, partner – economic development, and Tina Winner, a partner at DHR’s Jobplex. Also that month, DHR recruited David M. Roche as CEO for Phoenix-based Heard Museum. The search was completed by Bill Franquemont, a partner in DHR’s Phoenix office.
DHR was recently awarded six hospital CEO searches from the New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation (HCC); the assignments will be led by managing partner Robin Singleton and principal Dan Carney. The firm has also been retained by Gibson Brands to lead five senior-level searches, including filling the company’s CFO post and CHRO role. Rod Malcolm, managing partner of DHR’s global consumer practice, is leading a team of recruiters to fill these positions.
Contributed by Dale M. Zupsansky, Managing Editor, Hunt Scanlon Media