As
of July 1, 2022, the new Chairman of the Board of Management of Skoda Auto a.s.
will be Klaus Zellmer, who is currently the Volkswagen brand Board member
responsible for Sales, Marketing and After Sales.
Current
Skoda Auto CEO, Thomas Schäfer, will take over as Chairman of the Board of
Management of the Volkswagen brand on July 1, 2022, at the same time moving up
to the Group Board of Management and becoming Head of the ‘Volume’ brand group.
Klaus
Zellmer will be appointed as a new member of Skoda Auto’s Board of Management
on July1, 2022, to be subsequently elected by the Board of Management as their
new Chairman, as required by Czech law.
Murat
Aksel, Chairman of the Skoda Auto Supervisory Board, says, “Thomas Schäfer has
guided the company safely through two extremely challenging years and at the
same time formulated a clear plan for the future with the Next Level – Skoda
Strategy 2030. Today, Skoda Auto is more electric, digital and international
than ever. Thomas Schäfer has laid the foundations for a promising future for
the Skoda brand by successfully launching the electric Enyaq iV and other
planned e-models, taking on responsibility for regions and platforms for the
Volkswagen Group and successfully implementing the INDIA 2.0 project. I would
like to thank him for this on behalf of the entire Supervisory Board.”
Murat
Aksel adds, “At the same time, I am delighted that we have been able to recruit
one of our most high-profile managers to Skoda Auto. Klaus Zellmer has more
than 20 years’ experience in the industry. During this time, he has not only
distinguished himself as a leading automotive expert but has also demonstrated
great strategic and entrepreneurial foresight. I am convinced that, alongside
the Board team, he will do everything in his power to continue to
systematically advance Skoda Auto’s successful development.”
Klaus
Zellmer, who earned a degree in business administration, began his professional
career in 1997 as an assistant to a Member of the Boardof Porsche AG. In 1999,
he moved to Porsche France to work in sales network development, subsequently
taking over as Area Manager for North America. In 2000, as project manager, he
oversaw the development of the sales and marketing areas relating to the new
Porsche plant in Leipzig. After managing the customer centre at the Porsche
plant, Zellmer became Head of Marketing at Porsche Germany in 2007. He then
rose to the position of Chairman of the Board of Management in 2010.