[Tushar]

Slated to become Volkswagen North America's chief, Prof. Dr. Winfried Vahland has resigned from the company. The official release states that ''differing views on the organisation of the new group region'' led to Vahland's decision. The release also pre-emptively clarifies that the recent diesel scandal that led to the resignation of VW group CEO Martin Winterkorn had nothing to do with Vahland's decision.

Prof. Vahland began working with the Volkswagen group in 1990. After holding several key positions, he took over as President and CEO of Volkswagen's China division in 2005. He was appointed as the chairman of Skoda's board of management in 2010 before being chosen to head VW's newly restructured North American division less than a month ago.

[GTO]

How embarrassing! VW had only just announced that he'll be taking over as bossman of their North American operations.

Clearly, it was a job forced onto him and you really can't blame him for not wanting that. First, there's the whole emissions scandal that erupted in the USA. Then, VW's market performance is extremely weak in USA. After the cheating episode, it's safe to say that things aren't going to improve in the mid-term. Who would want such a job?

[lamborghini]

Originally Posted by GTO

After the cheating episode, it's safe to say that things aren't going to improve in the mid-term. Who would want such a job?

Someone who clearly has the courage and the brains to turn around. Honestly - turning around VW's image in the U.S. would be a terrific challenge - both on the resume, as well as a personal achievement.

From the press release, it seems that he was up for the challenge, but apparently VWAG had other plans on the turn-around which he was not amiable to. It's easy to hire great minds, but empowering them is another issue!

[ajmat]

One thing coming out is that VW have been too hasty in retaining and reassigning insiders. They should have looked at appointing some outsiders to show some semblance of change although it might take a while

[hybridpetrol]

Originally Posted by GTO

After the cheating episode, it's safe to say that things aren't going to improve in the mid-term. Who would want such a job?

The resigned VW group CEO Martin Winterkorn may get a "severance compensation" of 65 million dollars on how supervisory board characterises his exit ("scapegoat", probably).
On similar lines, Prof. Vahland would have foreseen that the supervisory board having some other plans to characterise similar exit for him with some alimony kind of stuff to spend his remaining life.
VW supervisory board probably needed some head to announce more bad news, and resign with severance pay, thereafter.

[StarScream]

Originally Posted by hybridpetrol

The resigned VW group CEO Martin Winterkorn may get a "severance compensation" of 65 million dollars on how supervisory board characterises his exit ("scapegoat", probably).
On similar lines, Prof. Vahland would have foreseen that the supervisory board having some other plans to characterise similar exit for him with some alimony kind of stuff to spend his remaining life.
VW supervisory board probably needed some head to announce more bad news, and resign with severance pay, thereafter.

I don't think he'd get severance for resigning, being forced out or fired is a different matter. Becomes a question of your own volition or not.

[GTO]

Originally Posted by lamborghini

Someone who clearly has the courage and the brains to turn around. Honestly - turning around VW's image in the U.S. would be a terrific challenge - both on the resume, as well as a personal achievement.

I think Vahland is up to business challenges - he's had a positive influence on Skoda.

VW's current USA situation is a challenge alright, but a rotten one at that. It could be that:

- He doesn't have enough career years left in him for a VW USA turnaround (which will take long).

- Is disgusted with VW for what it did.

- Further to the point above, he doesn't want anything to do with the cheating scandal.

- Is happy at Skoda!

- Etc.

I don't like shying away from challenges - this one is an exception though. If I were in his shoes, I'd probably walk away from the cheating episode too. It was cheating, plain & simple.

[rselva]

This is no time to leave the company. Facing the challenge and turning VW around would have earned him international fame. Guess not everyone can be Steve Jobs who came back in 1997 to stabilise floundering Apple.