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VW Names Mueller CEO, Unveils Major Restructuring Plan
As expected, Volkswagen AG's supervisory board has named Matthias Mueller, 62, who previously headed its Porsche unit, as the group's new CEO, effective immediately.
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As expected, Volkswagen AG's supervisory board has named Matthias Mueller, 62, who previously headed its Porsche unit, as the group's new CEO, effective immediately. He will continue to head the Porsche brand until a successor is found.
Mueller succeeds Martin Winterkorn, who resigned two days ago over the company's widening diesel emission test rigging scandal. VW says it sold 11 million diesel-powered worldwide that were programmed to cheat government emission rules.
VW group has fired two executives responsible for product and powertrain development. They are Ulrich Hackenberg, the Audi product development chief who previously held the same job for the VW brand, and Wolfgang Hatz, head of VW engine development.
The board confirms Christian Klinger, who had been head of sales and marketing for the VW brand, has left the company. VW says his departure is unrelated to the diesel testing crisis. Klinger will be replaced on Oct. 1 by Juergen Stackman, currently chairman of SEAT. Stackman's successor is Luca de Meo, currently head of Audi sales and marketing.
VW Group also announced a major restructuring that includes combining its Canadian and Mexican operations with those in the U.S. to form a new North American regional unit, effective Nov. 1. The new North American unit will be headed by Winfried Vahland, previously chairman of VW's Skoda brand. His successor at Skoda will be Bernhard Maier, currently the VW board member who heads sales and marketing for Porsche AG.
Michael Horn, who took over as president and CEO of VW Group of America, will continue in that post.
VW Group also is combining its Bentley, Bugatti and Porsche units under a single brand group. Similar brand groups for Audi-Ducati-Lamborghini, Truck Holding, Power Engineering and Financial Services operations will continue.
The group's major brands SEAT, Skoda and VW each will be represented one one member each on the group's management board. The VW brand's operations will be managed under four regions, each led by a local CEO who will report to brand Chairman Herbert Diess.