HARMAN Names Thomas Irawan COO of Automotive Division

HARMAN International—a wholly owned subsidiary of Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd., and a global technology company delivering AI-enabled products, software and orchestrated experiences across automotive, consumer and enterprise markets—announced that Dr. Thomas Irawan will join the company on Oct. 1, 2026, as chief operating officer and president-designate of HARMAN Automotive.

In this new role, Irawan will provide operational leadership for HARMAN Automotive, overseeing the division’s day-to-day execution and business performance. He will also become a member of HARMAN’s senior leadership team.

Leadership Transition

Christian Sobottka, HARMAN chief executive officer, will continue to serve as president of HARMAN Automotive, leading the division’s long-term strategy, major transformation initiatives, the planned integration of the ZF ADAS business following closing, and strategic customer and partner relationships. As part of a planned leadership transition, Irawan will progressively assume responsibility for the division’s operational leadership and business performance, company officials stated in a press release.

“The next generation of automotive innovation will be defined by execution,” said Sobottka. “Thomas brings the rare combination of strategic vision, operational excellence and deep software expertise needed to lead a business of HARMAN Automotive’s scale and ambition. Together, this leadership model strengthens our ability to execute at speed, grow with our customers and shape the next era of intelligent mobility.”

Irawan’s Background & New Role

Irawan joins HARMAN from ETAS, a global provider of automotive software, middleware and development solutions, where he serves as president and chairman. During his career at ETAS and Bosch, he has held senior leadership positions spanning software-defined vehicle technologies, advanced driver assistance systems, manufacturing, quality and global operations. He has led major business transformations and business growth initiatives, the release noted.

Beginning Oct. 1, Irawan will assume operational leadership of HARMAN Automotive, with responsibility for the division’s operating cadence, execution and business performance across its intelligent cockpit, car audio, connectivity, and automotive engineering services businesses, as well as global customer groups. Following completion of the pending acquisition of the ZF ADAS business, that organization is also expected to become part of his operational responsibilities.

“HARMAN has a unique ability to translate rapidly evolving consumer expectations into automotive technologies with the quality, reliability and engineering excellence our customers expect,” said Irawan. “I’m excited to join the team as we expand our capabilities, deepen our customer partnerships and deliver experiences that are safer, more intuitive and more rewarding for drivers and passengers.”