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Thunderbolt in the automotive world: the boiling boss of Volkswagen Herbert Diess will leave his post in a few weeks after four eventful years at the head of the first European manufacturer between scars from the “dieselgate” and transition to electric.
This surprise departure was decided ” from a common agreement at a meeting of Volkswagen’s supervisory board, according to a statement. Herbert Diess had been in the hot seat for months within the giant with twelve brands, plagued by recurring tensions with powerful staff representatives and other executive figures of the group engaged in a profound strategic shift.
The change also comes as Volkswagen is planning to IPO Porsche, its most prized brand, to raise new funds for electrification and massive digital investments. It is precisely the current chairman of the board of directors of Porsche, Oliver Blume, who will take the reins of the manufacturer from September 1, announced the group.
Arrived to turn the page of the “dieselgate”
Arrived in 2018 at the wheel of Volkswagen for definitively turning the page on “dieselgate”, Herbert Diess embodied the group’s ambition to become the world’s largest manufacturer of electric cars by 2025, by injecting tens of billions of euros into this fast-paced revolution. His divisive style often pitted him against influential staff representatives, but the 63-year-old Austrian had always managed to save his head.
« Herbert Diess played a key role in furthering the transformation of the business during his tenure Supervisory Board Chairman Hans Dieter Pötsch said in a statement. ” He not only steered the company through extremely choppy waters, he also fundamentally realigned it strategically “, he added. Favorite of the financial markets for his electric ambitions, Herbert Diess had never hidden his ambition of ” break down old and sclerotic structures which, according to him, are hampering the giant in its reconversion.
The future strongman of Volkswagen, Oliver Blume, joined the group in 1994 having since held management positions within the brands Audi, Seat, Volkswagen and Porsche, which he has led since 2015. He is a member of the management board of Volkswagen since 2018.” What is decisive for success is team spirit, fair play and passion “, underlined Oliver Blume in a final trip to the outgoing.