It didn’t take too long.
Rumours of a new CEO at Volkswagen Group have been dispelled. Today, the company announced that Herbert Diess (Volkswagen brand head) will replace Matthias Mueller as CEO. This is the company’s overarching company, which oversees many brands. The new CEO of VW Group was also announced. Six new business areas were created by the division of VW Group’s brands.
The brands of VW Group, including Volkswagen, Audi and Porsche as well as Bentley and Skoda will be divided into three categories: Volume, Premium and Super Premium. One area of business will be dedicated China, while another to the Truck & Bus division. Research and development, sales and production are just a few of the areas VW Group will be focusing on. VW Group believes the new management system will simplify the company and speed up the decision-making process.
In a statement announcing the changes, Hans Dieter Potsch, Chairman of the Supervisory board, stated that “The Volkswagen Group’s goal was and remains to align it and its brands with future requirements, to preserve its position amongst the leaders in the international automotive industry with innovation and profitability and be instrumental in shaping tomorrow’s personal mobility with support from our Group brands.” “Herbert Diess has the right management skills to accomplish that. He has shown impressive results in reorienting Volkswagen’s brand. This shows the speed and rigor he can execute radical transformation processes. He is now well-positioned to implement the Strategy 2025 in all of the crucial years.
After holding an executive post at BMW, Diess joined Volkswagen in the middle of 2015. VW hired him before the diesel emissions scandal broke. This is something that the company has tried to overcome ever since.
Other management changes were made at the company, including Diess. Francisco Javier Garcia Sanz is the head of Procurement. He has resigned. Oliver Blume, Chairman of Porsche’s Board of Management, will continue to be a member of the Group’s highest governing body. Gunnar Kilian (Secretary-General of Volkswagen Group Works Council) has been appointed to the Group Board of Management for Human Resources.