Skoda Chairman Winfried Vahland leaves the VW group

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.