Finance 14 May 2019

SIXT consistently drives digital change and strengthens Tech Management team: Dr. Michael Gürtner named new Chief Technology Officer, Dr. Klaus Kolitz to head global software development

  • SIXT creates new IT positions: Chief Technology Officer (CTO) and Head of Engineering
  • Michael Gürtner, IT expert with many years of experience in the field of digital business models, to become CTO on 1 July 2019
  • E-Commerce expert Dr. Klaus Kolitz will be responsible for the entire global software development process as Head of Engineering

Pullach, 14 May 2019 – With the appointment of Dr. Michael Gürtner as CTO and Dr. Klaus Kolitz as Head of Software Engineering, SIXT SE is underscoring the company’s increasing tech focus. With the launch of the new SIXT App, including the world’s first integrated mobility platform SIXT ONE at the end of February 2019, the company has demonstrated the increasing importance of IT for the further development of its business model. Since 2010, SIXT has almost quadrupled the number of tech employees from 150 to more than 550.

As of 1 July, Dr. Michael Gürtner (44) will be responsible for technology strategy and initiatives at SIXT in the newly created position of CTO. Dr. Gürtner previously worked as CTO at the Bosch start-up SAST (Security and Safety Things) GmbH for three years, where he was responsible for the development of an IoT ecosystem for the security industry. Dr. Gürtner has many years of experience in agile software development, cloud technologies and artificial intelligence. He studied electrical engineering at the Technical University of Munich where he completed his doctorate there in the context of the Internet of Things.

The proven e-commerce expert Dr. Klaus Kolitz (45) has been Head of Engineering at SIXT since 1 May and, with more than 20 years of expertise in the field of software development, will lead global software development at the five development centres in Pullach, Rostock, Berlin, Kiev and Bangalore. He previously worked as Head of Hotel Search Engineering at Trivago for eight years where he led a team of around 150 employees. With his department, Dr. Kolitz successfully managed and scaled the website of the hotel portal and scaled it many times over. He received his doctorate in the area of electronic markets from the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT).

About SIXT

Sixt SE with its registered office in Pullach near Munich, is a leading international provider of high-quality mobility services. With its products SIXT rent, SIXT share, SIXT ride and SIXT+ on the mobility platform ONE the company offers a uniquely integrated premium mobility service across the fields of vehicle and commercial vehicle rental, car sharing, ride hailing and car subscriptions. The products can be booked through the SIXT App, which also integrates the services of its renowned mobility partners. SIXT has a presence in more than 100 countries around the globe. The company stands for consistent customer orientation, a lived culture of innovation with strong technological competence, a high proportion of premium vehicles in the fleet and an attractive price-performance ratio. In 2023 Sixt Group achieved consolidated pre-tax earnings of EUR 464.3 million and another significant increase in consolidated revenue to EUR 3.62 billion. Sixt SE has been listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange since 1986 (ISIN ordinary share: DE0007231326, ISIN preference share: DE0007231334).

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