ELKHART, IN -- CTS, a global Top 50 EMS provider, today appointed automotive veteran Kieran O’Sullivan to succeed Vinod Khilnani as president and chief executive, effective Jan. 7.

Khilnani, who also is chairman, will become executive chairman until he retires Dec. 31, 2013.

“We are excited to bring Kieran O’Sullivan on as CTS’ next President and CEO,” said Khilnani in a statement. “Kieran’s background, operational experience, executive leadership, and capabilities in bringing new technologies to global markets, make him uniquely qualified to lead CTS’ growth initiatives going forward.”

O’Sullivan, 50, brings over 25 years of executive leadership experience in high-growth, technology companies. He is executive vice president of Continental's Global Infotainment and Connectivity Business and leads the NAFTA Interior Division, having joined Continental in 2006 as part of the acquisition of Motorola’s Automotive Electronics Business. Prior to that, O’Sullivan has been with Motorola since 1990 in in various senior management roles, including head of the Interior Electronics Business Unit, corporate vice president and general manager and co-leader of Motorola’s global automotive business.

He has a bachelor’s degree in engineering from the University of Limerick and master of business administration degree from University College in Dublin and diplomas in aeronautical avionics engineering and electrical engineering.

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