VW Exec Named Porsche Manufacturing Chief

Volkswagen AG's Porsche unit has appointed VW executive Oliver Blume as its new executive board member in charge of production and logistics, effective Jan. 1.

Blume will succeed Wolfgang Leimgruber, who is retiring after more than 35 years at Porsche.

The sports car maker says Blume's new job will include overseeing the production launches late next year of the new Macan small crossover vehicle and 918 Spyder plug-in hybrid supercar.

Blume joined VW's Audi brand as a trainee 18 years ago. He held a series of Audi manufacturing jobs before moving to the company's SEAT brand in Barcelona in 2004. Blume became global production planning chief for the VW brand in 2009.