Information technology professionals in Automotive manufacturing
Ford's Industrial Systems IT in Europe and Global CAD & Design, GM's Global Mfg Engineering IT, Nissan's Manufacturing & Supply Chain Management IT and Audi's Neckarsulm site IT put plant and engineering systems at the center of this automotive manufacturing group. The rest hold IT leadership titles at American Honda, FCA, thyssenkrupp Automotive, BorgWarner and Dana Incorporated, which suits questions on PLM and CAD platforms, SAP programs and plant systems.
Professionals to explore
Andre Rothfuß
LinkedInExperience: Vice President IT Drivetrain & Morse Systems · BorgWarner
Andre Rothfuß holds Vice President IT Drivetrain & Morse Systems (since 2024) and Vice President Industry4 IIoT (since 2024) at BorgWarner and Managing Director BW IT Services Europe GmbH (since 2023). Rothfuß was also Vice President IT Emission, Thermal and Turbo Systems (2023–2024) and Vice President Information Technology Services in 2026, and describes 35+ years in IT including a decade in finance.
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Denis Kirk
LinkedInExperience: IT Director · FCA Fiat Chrysler Automobiles
Denis Kirk has been IT Director at FCA Fiat Chrysler Automobiles since 2006, in P&P Supply Chain. Earlier roles were CIO at GRAMMER Americas (2000–2005) and System Administrator at Dana Incorporated (1988–1999). Kirk lists Oracle, SAP, Infor and Salesforce.com and specialties in SCM, ERP, CRM and EDI, the right call for supply chain application questions.
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Ivan Jukic
LinkedInExperience: Leiter Audi IT Standort Neckarsulm & Business Partner Manager Produktion Logistik · AUDI AG
Ivan Jukic is Leiter Audi IT Standort Neckarsulm & Business Partner Manager Produktion Logistik at AUDI AG (since 2022), after Leiter AUDI IT Neckarsulm (2019–2022) and Manager SAP CoC - customer order process (2011–2019). Other roles include Senior Manager, SCM Manufacturing at MHP – A Porsche Company (2008–2011) and Practice Leader EMEA, BuildToOrder at RedPrairie (2006–2008). Jukic fits plant IT and production logistics questions.
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Jens Pitterling
LinkedInExperience: Senior Director, Industrial Systems IT Europe · Ford Motor Company
Jens Pitterling has been Senior Director, Industrial Systems IT Europe at Ford Motor Company since 2024. Earlier Ford titles include Director IT, Partnerships & Alliances (2022–2024), Group Product Manager (2021–2022), Manager, Customer Experience IT Delivery (2019–2022) and Manager, Application Development Service Asia-Pacific (2016–2019). Pitterling fits questions on industrial systems IT across European plants.
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Krishna Chaitanya Sunkara
LinkedInExperience: IT Director, SAP Platform Architecture and LV COE · Dana Incorporated
Krishna Chaitanya Sunkara is IT Director, SAP Platform Architecture and LV COE at Dana Incorporated (since 2026) and Sr. IT Manager SAP Platform, lead Architect for Manufacturing Operations (since 2022). Earlier Dana roles were IT Manager SAP platform (2019–2022) and SAP Technical Architect (2016–2019), after SAP OS DB migration Lead at Wipro (2015–2016). Sunkara cites 17 years of ERP and SAP transformations.
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Markus Bernhardt
LinkedInExperience: Global Mfg Engineering IT Director · General Motors
Markus Bernhardt has been Global Mfg Engineering IT Director at General Motors since 2022, and earlier General Motors titles include Global Mfg Engineering IT Leader (2016–2022), Business Facing IT Manager Global Mfg Engineering Body (2010–2016) and Global Program Manager Mfg Engineering IT General Assembly, Virtual & Industrial Engineering (2004–2010). Bernhardt suits manufacturing engineering systems questions.
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Ram Mohan Kavala
LinkedInExperience: Director Industrial Systems IT - Global CAD & Design · Ford Motor Company
Ram Mohan Kavala is Director Industrial Systems IT - Global CAD & Design at Ford Motor Company (since 2023), covering CAD, design and product portfolio planning on Teamcenter, 3DX and Planisware. Kavala was Manager Design & Build - IT, Product Life Cycle Management at Ford (2015–2023) and Technical Expert at GeometricPLM (2004–2015). The pick for engineering systems and PLM questions.
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Sachin Raje
LinkedInExperience: Director of Information Technology · American Honda Motor Company, Inc.
Sachin Raje became Director of Information Technology at American Honda Motor Company, Inc. in 2026, responsible for global IT strategy, enterprise architecture, strategic sourcing and next generation value chain systems, after Assistant Vice President there (2021–2026). Honda R&D Americas, LLC roles were Chief Systems Engineer (2018–2021) and Principal Systems Engineer (2005–2021), with Consultant at GeometricPLM (1997–2005).
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Simon Blankenstein
LinkedInExperience: CIO SVP IT · thyssenkrupp Automotive
Simon Blankenstein has been CIO SVP IT at thyssenkrupp Automotive since 2026, after CIO Senior Vice President IT at Huf Group (2022–2026) and IT Director (CIO)- Continental Europe at Johnson Controls (2019–2022). Other roles include Head of CIO Office at DKV Mobility (2018–2019) and Head of Global Workplace Services at RWE (2015–2018). Blankenstein is a fit for CIO-level digital transformation questions.
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Steve Smith
LinkedInExperience: Director of Information Technology - Manufacturing & Supply Chain Management · Nissan Motor Corporation
Steve Smith is Director of Information Technology - Manufacturing & Supply Chain Management at Nissan Motor Corporation (since 2024). Other Nissan roles include IT Senior Manager, Aftersales, Warranty & Connected Car Services (2020–2024), IT Senior Manager, Supply Chain Management (2018–2020), IT Manager, Supply Chain Management (2013–2018) and Engineering Manager, Manufacturing Control Systems (2006–2013), a fit for plant and supply chain IT.
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Choose the right perspective
For plant floor and manufacturing engineering systems, start with Markus Bernhardt, Jens Pitterling, Steve Smith or Ivan Jukic. Ram Mohan Kavala is the one for CAD and PLM, Krishna Chaitanya Sunkara and Denis Kirk for SAP, ERP and supply chain applications, and Sachin Raje, Simon Blankenstein and Andre Rothfuß for CIO-level strategy, IT services and Industry 4.0.
Questions to take into the conversation
- 01How do you roll out a new manufacturing execution or plant system across vehicle plants without stopping the line?
- 02How should engineering IT manage CAD and PLM platforms when design teams sit in several countries?
- 03What does an SAP upgrade at an automotive plant look like when suppliers and EDI flows depend on it?
About this directory
This is a professional research starting point based on business profile data retrieved on . Titles and companies reflect that source snapshot; roles marked former had ended by then. Check the linked profiles for current details. Inclusion does not imply Instant Expert membership or availability.