German roofing systems supplier Webasto appointed Zhang Lihua acting president of its China operations, effective Feb. 1.
Zhang will report directly to Freddy Geeraerds, a board member at Webasto, Webasto’s China unit said.
Zhang joined Webasto in China in 2002. He was promoted to executive vice president of Webasto China in 2019.
Jan Henning Mehlfeldt, the current president of Webasto China, will leave China to lead the German supplier’s business in Europe.
Webasto operates 11 plants and has more than 4,000 employees in China, its largest market worldwide.
In 2020, China generated more than 10 billion yuan ($1.6 billion) or 40 percent of Webasto’s global sales.
A longtime supplier of sunroofs and roof systems, Webasto has started producing high-voltage heaters, charging poles and battery packs in China for EVs.
