Demel takes over at Audi with powers cut
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.HERBERT DEMEL, 40, the development director at Audi, was appointed head of the upmarket subsidiary of Volkswagen yesterday, replacing the sacked Franz-Josef Kortum. But an extraordinary meeting of Audi's supervisory board in Frankfurt said Mr Demel would not become chief executive but spokesman for the management board.
This suggests that Ferdinand Piech, chief executive of the Volkswagen group, intends to exert more direct control over Audi, which he used to head until the end of 1992. Mr Kortum, who was chosen by Mr Piech as his successor at Audi, was dismissed after 13 months in the job, blamed for plunging sales and higher than expected losses.
Since taking over Europe's largest car manufacturer at the beginning of 1993, Mr Piech's battle to staunch Volkswagen's haemorrhaging losses has resulted in a succession of executive firings - unusual for Germany where managerial sackings are virtually unheard of.
Mr Piech dismissed most of VW's group management board, then fired the head of the Spanish subsidiary, Seat, and has now axed Mr Kortum. Volkswagen's problems have been aggravated by the shadow hanging over its number two, Jose Ignacio Lopez de Arriortua, who is under criminal investigation in Germany and the US on suspicion of having stolen company secrets from his former employer, General Motors.
Mr Demel joined Audi in 1990 from Robert Bosch, the component manufacturer.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments