Published May 12, 2023
Aruna Anand was recognized with the Professional Achievement in Industry Award at the 2017 Women of Color in STEM Conference. This award was given in recognition of her exceptional leadership skills in managing a team that developed cutting-edge technologies for transporting people and goods worldwide.
Last year, Continental, a prominent technology company, announced that Anand will be the new President and CEO of their Automotive group in North America starting from December 1. She will also continue to serve as the head of the architecture and networking business area for Continental Automotive in the North American region.
Anand has been with the Continental Automotive group sector since 1997 and has held multiple leadership positions across various business areas.
She was previously in charge of software for gasoline engine and transmission systems in the Electronic Controls business unit within the Powertrain division. Additionally, she led the engineering team for the Wireless Product Group in the Connected Car Networking business unit of Continental's Vehicle Networking and Information business area.
Anand was also in charge of Continental Engineering Services, a separate business unit that provides a range of engineering services. He has now been appointed as the head of Architecture and Networking.
Anand holds a master's degree in computer science and engineering from Oakland University and a bachelor's degree in electrical and electronics engineering from Anna University, in Chennai, India.
She has been acknowledged by Automotive News as one of the 100 Leading Women in the North American Automotive industry in 2020, and was presented with the Automotive News Rising Star award in 2018. Anand was also awarded the Professional Achievement in Industry award at the Women of Color Awards Gala.
“This award intensifies my sense of responsibility to further the growth of women in STEM,” she said. “I believe it is vital that I do everything to the best of my ability. I’m grateful for this demanding journey that helped unveil strengths I wasn’t sure I possessed.”
