ElringKlinger’s Aftermarket business has seen a remarkable trajectory of expansion in recent years. The growth strategy is proving effective. Our customer focus and service philosophy, in particular, are now bearing fruit, in keeping with our chosen motto of “Your needs – our daily drive.” Based on the activities of the Aftermarket business unit as a prime example, we illustrate how the company’s vision – to be the “preferred partner” – is put into practice each and every day when it comes to engaging with our customers.
» Direct dialogue and close ties with customers are at the heart of our Aftermarket business at Elring. «
Georges Mourad, Vice President Aftermarket
7 a.m. Breakfast / Preparation working day
It’s early in the morning: Georges Mourad, Vice President of the Aftermarket business unit at ElringKlinger, is sitting at the breakfast table. He cherishes this precious moment before embarking on a busy day of work. Over a cup of coffee, he skims through various newsletters to catch up on the latest developments, particularly in the automotive sector. This morning routine provides him with a snapshot of the current trends and challenges that tend to drive his job on a daily basis. Thus, he is always well prepared for upcoming meetings and can incorporate his insights surrounding the latest developments into the associated decision-making processes.
Having checked his appointments and meetings for the day and answered urgent e-mails or team messages on his smartphone, he makes his way to the office. During his commute, he also tends to reflect on important issues: Which strategic goals should we be pursuing? What challenges might we face? Having arrived at the office, he dedicates his time to decisions of central importance to the business, engages in extensive dialogue with management and specialist staff, and negotiates deftly with customers to achieve the best possible results for the Aftermarket business unit. Applying this structured approach, he is able to drive all issues forward in an efficient and targeted manner.
8.30 a.m. Global Town Hall Meeting
Shortly after arriving at the Neuffen site, a Global Town Hall Meeting is held in the morning, bringing together all Aftermarket employees. The event is opened by Georges Mourad. He presents a strategy update and outlines the new product portfolio. Presentations are also given by employees from various Aftermarket management levels and sites, covering a range of specialist topics such as the introduction of the new LiqRep adhesives that are used to repair plastic and metal parts. Mourad favors the use of communication platforms such as these to ensure a transparent flow of information. He is adamant that only well-informed employees can make an active contribution to the company. The atmosphere at these events is defined by a sense of openness and interaction, two aspects that are also important to him. There is an unbiased approach to viewpoints and ideas, which helps to foster dialogue and collaboration within the team.
12 o’clock Customer Lunch
After the Global Town Hall Meeting, Georges Mourad takes the opportunity to join a group of visiting customers and the specially assigned Aftermarket sales manager for lunch at the company restaurant. It soon becomes evident from the conversations with the visiting party that the advances of digitalization within the aftermarket sector are making customers’ jobs much easier. Georges Mourad likes to take time for his customers at a face-to-face level and appreciates the constructive exchange this involves: customer needs have to be clearly communicated and understood in order to create the basis for a fruitful and lasting partnership.
“Engaging directly with our customers is of immeasurable value to me. Customer interaction – whether at meetings, trade shows, or training sessions – provides an opportunity not only to share our expertise but also to get valuable feedback and gain a better understanding of our customers’ needs. Direct dialogue and close ties with customers are at the heart of our Aftermarket business at Elring.” – Georges Mourad, Vice President Aftermarket Business Unit at ElringKlinger.
2 p.m. Relocation and Jour Fixe with CSO
After lunch, Mourad switches locations and travels to the neighboring ElringKlinger headquarters in Dettingen/Erms for one of his regular meetings with CSO Dirk Willers. The latter is the Management Board executive accountable for the Aftermarket business unit – and he knows it like the back of his hand. After all, he headed the unit very successfully for over eight years before being appointed to the Management Board in 2023. The ongoing exchange between Mourad and the Chief Sales Officer is to be seen against a backdrop of exciting developments and key fundamentals. The purpose of these meetings is not only to consult on central topics and future positioning but also to conduct in-depth discussions on current market trends. Among the particularly encouraging milestones were two agreements successfully concluded with new customers – contracts secured by the team with great commitment and strategic skill. Georges Mourad greatly appreciates the direct line of communication with Dirk Willers and considers the regular feedback and sparring sessions with the board member overseeing the Aftermarket business unit to be essential for successful collaboration.
3.30 p.m. Meeting-Preparation
To bridge the gap until his next scheduled meeting, Georges Mourad has booked a workstation via the Desk Booking System, an in-house room booking portal at ElringKlinger. There, he checks a few e-mails and prepares for the next meeting with the Global Strategy & Digitalization team. The focus of this meeting is on the end-to-end integration of the Aftermarket business unit into the overarching SHAPE30 Group strategy. Those involved in this project are responsible for analyzing various strategic approaches and drawing up specific measures to maximize synergies. Mourad is able to contribute his extensive experience and in-depth knowledge of individual market requirements. The meeting ends with clearly defined milestones and to-dos that are to be implemented by all participants by the time of the follow-up.
» I am inspired in particular by the dynamism and entrepreneurial mindset seen in the Aftermarket business unit, along with the opportunity to support talented employees in their continued development. «
Georges Mourad, Vice President Aftermarket
5 p.m. Networking Event
At the end of the working day, the last item on the agenda is an Aftermarket networking event in Stuttgart. The focus here is on topical issues such as digitalization and e-mobility in the aftermarket sector. Among the highlights is a keynote speech on latest developments relating to the repairability of electric vehicles in Germany, given by an expert from an established e-mobility company. Mourad talks extensively about the latest trends and exchanges views on best practices and successful strategies, such as the integration of digital service platforms within a company. Although the latest generation of electric vehicles often takes center stage in the media and tends to captivate the public, topics such as digitalization and e-mobility actually also play a role in the aftermarket sector. In fact, the range of products and services relating to the aftermarket business is also becoming increasingly digital. It is thanks to digitalization that the service provided to customers can be made even more user-friendly. This is of crucial importance to ElringKlinger, considering that the customer is always at the heart of everything we do.
The focus of ElringKlinger’s Aftermarket business unit is on delivering added value to customers. In this context, an extensive range of services and exceptional product availability are of particular importance.
ElringKlinger’s Aftermarket business is a prime example of the company’s customer-centric approach and its strength in innovation. Day in, day out, the global Aftermarket team is committed to maximizing added value for customers, in addition to establishing and extending long-term business relations. Underpinned by the Group’s SHAPE30 strategy, “Elring – Das Original” is ideally positioned to maintain its successful track record well into the future and make a positive contribution to the industry, the environment, and society as a whole. ElringKlinger endeavors to be the preferred partner to its customers by responding directly to their specific needs and offering innovative solutions.
» Engaging with customers at a face-to-face level and developing market-driven solutions are essential elements of our Aftermarket business and are a reminder of why I chose this path. «
Georges Mourad, Vice President Aftermarket
Georges Mourad,
Vice President Aftermarket
born in 1981, Vice President Aftermarket, assumed the role of Head of the Aftermarket business unit at ElringKlinger AG as of December 1, 2024. He is a graduate of two Master’s degree programs in Automotive Engineering, completed in Paris and Esslingen. At the beginning of his career, Mourad was responsible for the Mahle Group’s aftermarket business in the sales region of Western Europe, Middle East, and Africa, before assuming global accountability for logistics, supply chain, and process excellence as Director Global Operations and Business Excellence Aftermarket for several years. In his current role at ElringKlinger, he has set himself the goal of advancing the business unit’s growth strategy and guiding the “Elring – Das Original” brand to further success, also against the backdrop of transformation within the automotive industry.
