The VW Group has confirmed several high-profile management changes as it bids to strengthen Audi, increase its Chinese sales and lower the average age of its board members.
The most notable change is that current Bentley and Bugatti boss Wolfgang Dürheimer is moving to Audi as head of research and development. He will be replaced by Wolfgang Schreiber, the current Speaker of the Board of Management of Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles.
Dürheimer joined Bentley in February 2011, overseeing projects such as the development of its SUV concept and a much-rumoured return to motorsport for the marque. At Audi he replaces Michael Dick, who is retiring.
Schreiber is best known for leading the engineering on the Bugatti Veyron project before moving into management roles.
In addition, Luca de Meo will move to Audi as its head of marketing from his current role as head of marketing for VW passenger cars. He will be replaced at VW by Jürgen Stackmann, former marketing boss of Skoda.
Current head of heavy trucks Jochem Heizmann takes a board post running VW's China operations. He replaces Karl-Thomas Neumann.
Former VW purchasing chief Bernd Martens joins Audi as head of purchasing. In addition, Audi's head of sales and marketing, Peter Schwarzenbauer, is leaving the company.
The current head of Audi, Rupert Stadler, is expected to continue in his current role.
