Audi has conducted a major management shake-up, replacing four of the seven members of its board of management.
The moves come as the company, part of the Volkswagen Group, continues to deal with the fallout from the Dieselgate scandal. The substantial shuffle does not include chief executive officer Rupert Stadler, whose contract was extended by five years recently. Reports by Reuters suggest that Stadler has the backing of the VW Group’s bosses.
While a release released by Audi gave no explanation for the shake-up, a quote by Matthias Muller, Volkswagen chief executive and chairman of Audi’s supervisory board, alluded to the Dieselgate scandal. “Audi has recently passed through a difficult phase, but has all the prerequisites to be successful also in the mobility world of tomorrow,” said Muller.
Finance boss Alex Strotbek, production head Hubert Waltl, human resources chief Thomas Sigi and sales boss Dietmat Voggenreiter will all be replaced.
Alexander Seitz, currently a vice-president of Chinese joint venture SAIC Volkswagen, will head up Audi’s finance and IT. Bram Schot will move from a role in the VW Group’s Group Sales division to serve as marketing and sales chief.
Wendelin Gobel has been named the new human resources boss, moving over from a role as the head of the board of management’s office of the VW Group. Audi Hungary boss Peter Kossler will now head up production and logistics.
Stadler said: "Our shared goal with the new board of management team and a strong workforce is now to set the course for the future and to systematically move forward with our transformation towards e-mobility, digitization and mobility services. Our growth plan and Strategy 2025 provide the roadmap.”
Read more
Volkswagen engineer sentenced to prison for Dieselgate involvement
Audi accused of new emissions cheat on A7 and A8
Join the debate
Add your comment
Who is Audi fooling
Anther change within the week?
Audi reshuffling management? Well in-line with recent naming conventions the CEO will be designated 60, vice chair will now become a 50, directors will 45, assistant directors will be reffered to as 40's, area managers 30, team leaders 20, shift supervisors 10.
Audi's name designation dept. You know it makes sense.