Porsche Unit in China Gets New Chief

Volkswagen AG's Porsche unit has appointed Deesch Papke, head of its International and Growth Markets unit, to become CEO of the brand's sales operations in China on July 1.

Papke's career included stints at BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Land Rover and Volvo before Porsche hired him in 2005 as head of its Dubai-based Middle East and Africa unit.

He is switching jobs with current China sales chief Helmut Broker, who will assume Papke's responsibilities for Porsche sales in Africa, Australia, India, Japan, Latin America, the Middle East and Southeast Asia.

Broker has led the Chinese unit since joining Porsche from BMW AG six years ago. He helped Porsche boost its sales in China to 31,200 vehicles last year from 4,900 units in 2007, thus making the country its second-largest market after the U.S.

In other management changes, Porsche named Michael Bartsch, its chief operating officer in North America, to become managing director duties for the brand's Australia operations on Sept. 1. He succeeds Michael Winker, who will be assigned an unspecified new international sales position.

Christer Ekberg, managing director of Porsche Asia Pacific, move to the brand's Middle East and Africa unit, where he will have the same title. The company has not yet named Ekberg's successor in Asia Pacific.