Volkswagen Brand Announces New Appointments In Global After Sales and Sales Divisions

WOLFSBURG, GERMANY 29 April 2009 - The Volkswagen brand has announced new appointments to several senior management posts in both after sales and the sales divisions.

Michael Horn (46) assumes responsibility for Volkswagen global after sales with effect from June. Horn joined Volkswagen in 1990 and worked on Group and brand strategy before becoming head of Volkswagen sales North West Europe in 1997 and head of sales and marketing luxury class vehicles in 2001. He was named head of sales Europe in 2004. Dietmar Hildebrandt (50), present head of after sales, will take on new responsibilities.

Alain Favey (42) has been named the new head of Volkswagen sales Europe. He held senior sales and marketing posts at Citroën for over 20 years, including responsibility for many European markets, and has been commercial director for sales on the French automaker’s home market since 2007.

Hartmut Rickel (44) will head sales control at the Volkswagen brand from July 1. The industrial engineering graduate has been with the Group for 18 years and, following several posts in controlling at Volkswagen in Wolfsburg, has held responsibility for controlling at Skoda since May 2005. He succeeds Ulrich Thein (63), who is retiring after almost 40 years with the Group, during which he held numerous responsible positions in finance, controlling and sales control. He will continue to support the company in an advisory capacity.

Dr. Stephan Wöllenstein (46) has been appointed to the newly-created post of head Volkswagen sales strategy and business development effective August 1. Wöllenstein joined Volkswagen in 2005 and has held several senior posts in international sales. He was given responsibility for a product line in Group product management at the beginning of last year.

Christian Klingler, member of the board of management of the Volkswagen brand with responsibility for sales and marketing commented: "These new appointments strengthen sales and service at the Volkswagen brand even further, both in strategic terms and with regard to operational business. We are thus taking important steps towards successfully implementing the Mach 18 strategy. The considerable competence of our senior managers and specialists will be deployed even more effectively."