Restructure at VW Group

The Volkswagen Group has announced significant structural changes intended to speed up its internal decision-making process.

As part of the change, the number of top managers reporting direct to CEO Matthias Müller has been almost halved, and new appointments to several posts will take effect in the first quarter of 2016.

Matthias said, ‘These structural changes speed up the decision-making process, reduce complexity and increase efficiency. The Group Board of Management can focus more closely than previously on overarching issues of the future, safeguard cross-brand synergies and further develop overall strategy.

‘The team in the CEO’s area of responsibility is almost complete, with excellent colleagues from within and outside the Group taking up the new posts. We are focusing in particular on the technological changes that impact the future of mobility – from electrification to the digital transformation.

‘Our goal is to play a decisive role in shaping the transformation of the automobile. Our new lean structure will enable us to develop the considerable potential of our company, its brands and employees to great effect. We will see faster decision-making and more efficient action.’

Under these structural changes, the following appointments take effect in the CEO’s area of responsibility during the first quarter of 2016:

  • Dr Ulrich Eichhorn will lead Group Research and Development.
  • Fred Kappler will assume responsibility for Group Sales.
  • Michael Mauer will lead Group Design.
  • Wolfram Thomas takes charge of Group Production.
  • Ralf-Gerhard Willner will lead Group Product and Modular Toolkit Strategy.
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