Information and communications technology (ICT) service provider T-Systems took over the shares in gedas AG from Volkswagen AG on April 1, 2006. With approximately 5,500 employees, gedas is expected to strengthen T-Systems’ expertise in the automotive industry and support the internationalization strategy of the company.
“Together with gedas, we want to establish ourselves as the leading ICT
supplier in the automotive sector,” announced T-Systems CEO Lothar
Pauly. “In order to achieve this ambitious goal we have created a separate
division combining all automotive activities. I anticipate that we will complete
the integration of gedas into T-Systems by the end of the year.”
Axel Knobe, former CEO of gedas, will take over the role of Chief Sales
& Service Officer in the executive committee of T-Systems. Hans-Jürgen
Schwerhoff, previously Group Executive Director, Operational Services, at
gedas, will head the Automotive Industry Line and also be gedas’ new CEO.
With the acquisition, T-Systems gains the VW Group as a corporate
Customer, with an agreement covering existing IT services worth
2.5 billion euros. gedas generated a turnover of around 606 million euros in 2005 and
serves customers in the industry sectors for automotive, transport, logistics
and public administration. Through gedas, T-Systems is expected to improve its presence
in key automotive markets such as North and Latin America and will
strengthen its position in Western Europe. |
