President & Secretary General

CLEPA President

Matthias Zink has been CEO Automotive Technologies at Schaeffler and Member of the Executive Board since 2017.

Mr Zink is President of CLEPA since January 2024 and CEO Powertrain and Chassis at Schaeffler.

In January 2017, Zink became Schaeffler’s CEO of the Automotive Technologies division, where he started his career in 1994 as a test engineer. In Subsequent years he held various leadership positions, before becoming responsible for the Clutch Systems business unit in 2006. In 2012, Matthias Zink assumed the position as President of Schaeffler Automotive Asia/Pacific. In July 2014, he was appointed President of the Transmission Systems business division. Besides his position as CEO of Schaeffler’s Automotive Technologies division he assumed responsibility for the Engine Systems and Chassis Systems business divisions as well as Global Key Account Management Automotive in 2019. Before that, has also been responsible for the Transmission Systems business division, research and development and the E-Mobility business division, which was founded in January 2018.

Matthias Zink is based at the headquarters of Schaeffler’s Automotive Technologies division in Bühl, Germany.

CLEPA Secretary General

Benjamin Krieger has worked in EU policy and communications for the past 15 years, with positions in the European Parliament, as a consultant, and as part of the CLEPA team.

Mr. Krieger assumed the role of CLEPA Secretary General as of 1 September 2022. Working closely with the team, members, and key stakeholders, he aims to ensure that the EU policy community embrace the CLEPA vision to be the leading provider of innovative technologies and solutions for safe, sustainable and smart mobility around the world.

Preceding his role of Secretary General, Mr. Krieger led Government Affairs for CLEPA. Before joining CLEPA, he advised clients on public affairs and strategic communications, working across a broad range of topics at the intersection of industry, sustainability, digitalisation, and trade for businesses and associations across different sectors.

A journalist by training, Benjamin started his career in the European Parliament, first managing the office of a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) and later becoming the spokesperson to a delegation of 12 MEPs.

Originally from Germany, Mr. Krieger speaks English, German and French.