Webasto Thermo & Comfort North America Appoints CEO

"The Webasto Group sees an immense amount of potential in North America. Mark Denny has a proven track record of bringing steady, sustainable growth to the companies he's led in the past, and we know he'll do the same for our Thermo & Comfort group," said Axel Schulmeyer, chairman of the management board, Webasto Thermo & Comfort SE.

Denny's strategy includes utilizing Webasto's global resources and knowledge of heating, cooling and ventilation solutions to expand the company's reach and product portfolio in North America. Work has already begun in the automotive, commercial vehicle and off-highway markets, which will bring innovative solutions for current and future customers.

Webasto pioneered the development of fuel-operated air heating technology, introducing the world's first commercially available unit in the 1950s. The company produces more than a million heaters per year and remains a leading innovator of heating, cooling and ventilation systems for the transportation industry. Webasto introduced the folding fabric roof in 1932, the steel panel sunroof in 1956, and the glass sunroof in 1974. This became the modern-day sunroof millions of people worldwide enjoy daily.

The company's marine division produces market-leading heating and cooling systems, and a wide array of sunroofs. Its products are used by some of the industry's most respected boatbuilders. Webasto earned an Innovation Award for its V50M chiller system in 2014.