VW Shakes Up Management

Volkswagen AG has named new chiefs for trucks and Chinese operations and will replace three senior Audi managers as part of an overhaul to help the company reach its goal of becoming the world's largest automaker by 2018.

The changes, which take effect on Sept. 1, also reflect VW's efforts to integrate the Porsche sports car and Ducati motorcycle brands into its existing operations. In addition, the company aims to merge its commercial truck operations with those of truckmakers MAN AG and Scania AB, in which VW holds controlling stakes.

The changes VW announced on Saturday include:

Jochem Heizmann, currently the head of commercial vehicles, is appointed to a newly created management board post to oversee operations in China. VW says it is looking for a new assignment for Karl-Thomas Neumann, who now heads its Chinese unit.

Scania CEO Leif Ostling will step down after 18 years in the job to join VW's management board as head of commercial vehicles. Scania sales chief Martin Lundstedt will succeed Ostling as CEO.

MAN CEO Georg Pachta-Reyhofen will take on the additional duties of VW management board member for the industrial engines unit.

Wolfgang Schreiber, a senior manager for VW commercial vehicles, will trade that job for Bentley's top post.

Bentley CEO Wolfgang Duerheimer will become Audi's board member for technical development.

VW marketing chief Luca de Meo will become Audi sales and marketing chief. He replaces Peter Schwarzenbauer, who is leaving the company.

Separately, Johan de Nysschen, president of Audi's U.S. unit, says he is stepping down to accept an unidentified new job. During his seven years in the job, Audi nearly doubled its share of the American luxury market to 10%.