Atlas Copco: New Head of the Compression Technology Division
The Swedish industrial group Atlas Copco has appointed Philippe Ernens as the new President of its Compression Technology division. Ernens will take up his new position on May 1. He is currently the global President of the Oil-Free Compressed Air Division within Compression Technology.
"Philippe Ernens enriches the Group management with extensive experience, outstanding technical knowledge and a strong track record," said Mats Rahmström, CEO of the Atlas Copco Group. "He is also highly regarded as a leader across the Group." Ernens, a Belgian national, started his career at Atlas Copco in 1995 as a product developer in the Airtec division of the Compressor Technology Group Area. After holding various positions as team leader, technical director and managing director, he headed the operational business of high-pressure compressors. In 2012, he became President of the Airtec Division and has been President of the Oil-Free Compressed Air Division since 2016. At Atlas Copco, the presidents are responsible for the global success of the individual divisions into which each Group area is subdivided.
Compression Technology is Atlas Copco's largest division. With almost 24,000 employees, it generated sales of 75.5 billion Swedish kronor (approx. 6.6 billion euros) in 2023 - around 44% of Group revenue. Philippe Ernens studied electromechanics at the University of Liège in Belgium. He will carry out his new duties from Antwerp. Ernens succeeds Vagner Rego, who, as reported in January, will also replace Mats Rahmström as Group CEO on May 1. The Atlas Copco Group offers compressed air and vacuum technology, energy solutions, dewatering and industrial pumps, industrial power tools, assembly technology and vision solutions. In 2023, the Group generated sales of 173 billion Swedish kronor (around 15 billion euros) with around 53,000 employees.