Continental Tire North America president resigns

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (Feb. 25)—Ulrich Wellen, president of Continental Tire North America Inc. for the past year, has left the company to pursue other professional activities. Effective immediately, Martien de Louw, 56, has become president, CEO and head of the Charlotte-based tire maker's passenger/light truck replacement business unit. In addition, de Louw will continue to serve as a board member of parent Continental A.G., with responsibility for the passenger tire division worldwide. A native of the Netherlands, de Louw joined Conti in December from DAF Trucks, a subsidiary of the Paccar Group in Seattle. Wellen joined Continental Tire North America in April 2001 as the unit's first-ever chief operating officer after serving as vice president of Continental's worldwide original equipment car tire sales unit.