CEO Diess Says VW Needs a “Clear Moral Compass”

Volkswagen AG CEO Herbert Diess tells shareholders the company needs a “clear moral compass” to avoid another diesel emission cheating scandal.

Diess aims to create one with a new company initiative called “Together4Integriy.” He says the intent is to permanently embed ethical conduct in VW’s corporate culture. Much will be driven by managers, regardless of their level in the organization, according to Diess. “We are role models,” he declares. “We have to be trustworthy, honest and reliable.”

The new initiative will bolster VW’s whistleblower system and align the company’s supplier relations “more closely with compliance principles,” Diess promises. His goal is to create a “culture of constructive dissent” that also imposes an “uncompromising approach” to punishing wrongdoers.

Diess’s inspirational comments follow a harsh assessment last month of the company’s efforts to date from former U.S. Deputy Attorney General Larry Thompson.

Thompson, who was assigned last year to monitor VW’s progress in the wake of the company’s diesel scandal, reports no real cultural change in the company. He also criticizes VW’s miniscule steps to make personnel reforms that would discourage cheating.

Diess declares himself in complete agreement with Thompson’s recommendation that VW consider compliance and integrity as equally important to product development, production and sales.