Μήνες προτού ξεσπάσει το σκάνδαλο της VW, τα δύο μεγάλα κεφάλια του VW Group, Ferdinand Piëch και Martin Winterkorn είχαν τις διαφωνίες τους, μια κόντρα που οδήγησε τελικά στην αποχώρηση του Piëch από τη θέση του Προέδρου του Γερμανού Κολοσσού. Η The Wall Street Journal όμως, σε ένα ενδιαφέρον άρθρο, αναρωτιέται μήπως τελικά ο Piëch κατάφερε και έκανε το δικό του.
Ο Piëch, όσο ακόμη ήταν πρόεδρος του VW Group, ήθελε να διώξει τον Martin Winterkorn από τη θέση του CEO και να βάλει στη θέση του, το δικό παιδί, τον CEO της Porsche, τον Matthias Müller, ο οποίος και όπως γνωρίζεις, είναι ο νέος CEO του VW Group, μετά την αποχώρηση του Winterkorn. Επίσης στα θέλω του Piëch ήταν και ο 64χρονος Hans Dieter Pötsch να αναλάβει κάποιον ηγετικό ρόλο στην VW, με το εποπτικό συμβούλιο να τον κάνει σήμερα και επίσημα τον νέο πρόεδρο του. Ο Pötsch ήταν ο γενικός οικονομικός διευθυντής της Porsche SE και της VW, με την θέση του να την αναλαμβάνει πλέον ο Frank Witter. Η Porsche SE είναι η επιχείρηση των οικογενειών Porsche-Piëch που ελέγχει το 50+% των μετοχών της VW, με τις δύο οικογένειες να μπορούν να ασκήσουν μεγαλύτερη επιρροή στην VW στο μέλλον.
Σύμφωνα με το δημοσίευμα της The Wall Street Journal, ο Piëch και η σύζυγός του, Ursula, έκαναν την εμφάνισή τους στο κεντρικό εργοστάσιο της VW με μια κόκκινη Bentley, μια ημέρα μετά την παραίτηση του Winterkorn. Και κάπως έτσι φουντώνουν οι φήμες πως πίσω από την αποκάλυψη του σκανδάλου, βρίσκεται ο 78χρονος κος Piëch.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SyDBSfZIyUQ
Για να διαβάσεις τις τελευταίες εξελίξεις σχετικά με το σκάνδαλο της Volkswagen πάτησε εδώ.
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Statement from the Supervisory Board of Volkswagen AG
At its meeting today, the Supervisory Board of Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft elected Hans Dieter Pötsch (64) as its Chairman with immediate effect. The Supervisory Board appointed Frank Witter (56), previously Chairman of the Board of Management of Volkswagen Financial Services AG, to succeed Pötsch as Member of the Board of Management with responsibility for Finance and Controlling.
In a statement on behalf of the Supervisory Board, Dr. Wolfgang Porsche, Member of the Executive Committee, said: “Our sincere thanks go to Mr. Pötsch for agreeing to take on this important task at this difficult time. Mr. Pötsch has profound knowledge of the entire Volkswagen Group and the automobile industry in general as well as great expertise in financial markets. We would like to thank Berthold Huber who assumed responsibility as interim Chairman of the Supervisory Board and who has also rendered great service to the Company in this function.”
Speaking after the meeting, Pötsch said: “I am grateful to the Supervisory Board for the trust expressed by my election as Chairman. I will do my utmost to uncover the full truth of what happened. I am firmly resolved to make my contribution so that Volkswagen can win back the trust of customers, the public, investors and business partners. And I believe my central task is to play my part in guiding Volkswagen towards a successful future.”
The new Supervisory Board Chairman continued: “Today’s meeting showed once again that the investigations are being pursued systematically and intensively. The law firm Jones Day commissioned by the Supervisory Board to conduct the external investigation is literally leaving no stone unturned.”
He added that conjecture or vague, nebulous information did not serve anyone: “The Supervisory Board attaches great importance to the fact that clarification is being conducted by Jones Day. We will closely follow and support this process. And we will do what is required of us to make sure that the necessary consequences are drawn from the investigation.”
Frank Witter appointed Volkswagen Group Board Member for Finance
Frank Witter (56) has been appointed Member of the Board of Management of Volkswagen AG with responsibility for Finance and Controlling with immediate effect. This was decided by the Supervisory Board at its meeting today (Wednesday) in Wolfsburg. Witter was previously Chairman of the Board of Management of Volkswagen Financial Services AG. In his new function, Witter succeeds Hans Dieter Pötsch (64), who served as the Volkswagen Group Board Member for Finance from 2003 and who, following his appointment by the competent local court as a Member of the Supervisory Board, was today elected its Chairman.
Witter was born on May 29, 1959. He holds a degree in business administration and has been with the Volkswagen Group since 1992. After training as a qualified savings bank officer, Frank Witter studied economics at the University of Hannover. He joined Volkswagen AG in 1992, heading the capital markets business section at the Group Treasury until 1998. He subsequently became Treasurer at Volkswagen of America Inc., Volkswagen Canada Inc., VW Credit Inc. and their subsidiaries in Auburn Hills, Michigan, U.S.A.
From 2001 to 2002 Witter served as Corporate Treasurer at SAirGroup in Zurich, Switzerland. In 2002 he became Chief Financial Officer (CFO) at Volkswagen of America Inc., Volkswagen Canada Inc., VW Credit Inc. and their subsidiaries. From the beginning of 2005 he held the function of Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Chief Financial Officer (CFO) at Volkswagen of America Inc. and Volkswagen Canada Inc. He was the Group’s Executive Manager and Chief Representative for the region of North America from July 2006 to September 2007.
From October 2007 to mid-September 2008, Frank Witter served as President and Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of VW Credit Inc. and was Regional Manager for the American markets of Volkswagen Financial Services AG. Frank Witter was Chairman of the Board of Management of Volkswagen Financial Services AG from September 2008.
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