Dirk Hoke, former CEO of Siemens’ (NYSE: SI) large drives business unit, will join Airbus Group to succeed Bernhard Gerwert as CEO of the airplane maker’s defense and space segment in a transition to take effect April 1, 2016.Airbus Group said Tuesday Hoke will initially join the company on Jan. 1, 2016 as deputy CEO of the defense segment and will work with Gerwert to become familiar with the business until the succession plan completes.
Gerwert, who plans to retire from the company by June 2016, will continue as defense segment CEO during that transition period then shift into a senior adviser role to support Hoke and Airbus Group CEO Tom Enders.
Enders said he and Gerwert discussed the timeframe of a defense segment leadership transition more than two years ago.
Hoke started his career in automotive with Renault in 1994 and joined Siemens two years later.
