VW’s New North America Chief Quits

Volkswagen Group says Winfried Vahland, who was named three weeks ago to head the company’s operations in North America, is leaving the company instead.

A 25-year veteran of the company, the 58-year-old Vahland has led the Skoda brand for the past five years. Skoda say he decided to quit because of “varying opinions on the design of the group’s new North American region” and not because of VW’s diesel emission cheating scandal.

Vahland was to take over a restructured Volkswagen of American in November. The new assignment was part of a groupwide reorganization that included former Porsche unit chief Matthias Mueller replacing Martin Winterkorn as CEO.