Siemens’ Industry Automation division announced that Eckard Eberle will take over as chief executive officer of its Industrial Automation Systems business unit, effective June 1. Eberle succeeds Ralf-Michael Franke, who was appointed CEO of the Drive Technologies division of Siemens in early April. Previously the head of the company’s control components business segment and of facilities management in Amberg, Eberle will now be responsible for the product and system portfolio for solutions that concern all aspects of totally integrated automation. This includes a range of Simatic S7 controllers, as well as industrial software based on the manufacturing execution system Simatic IT. He joined Siemens in 1992 and has held positions in various segments of the organization since. For more information, visit: www.siemens.com