Skoda gets a new CEO

Bernhard Maier, current board member for sales and marketing at Porsche AG, will become Skoda’s new CEO, while the current CEO Dr. Winfried Vahland will take over all responsibility for Volkswagen Group’s newly formed North American Region.

By Autocar Professional Bureau

29 Sep 2015

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Bernhard Maier (R) will be Škoda's new CEO, while Prof. Dr. Winfried Vahland (L) will take over all responsibility for Volkswagen Group’s newly formed North American Region (NAR).

After five years, Škoda will now see some changes at the top. From November 1st, Bernhard Maier (55), current board member for sales and marketing at Porsche AG, will become the brand’s new CEO. At the same time, the current CEO Prof. Dr. Winfried Vahland (58) will take over all responsibility for Volkswagen Group’s newly formed North American Region (NAR).

Bernhard Maier studied business management in Calw after completing his training as a car mechanic and then obtaining his qualification as a master mechanic. After working for Nixdorf, Maier joined the BMW AG sales organisation in 1988, assuming various management positions. In June 2001, Maier joined Porsche and ran the company’s domestic sales subsidiary. In 2010, he took over the position of board member for sales and marketing.

Commenting on the occasion, Prof. Dr. Winfried Vahland said, “It wasn’t an easy decision for me to take up a new position within the group after over five eventful, successful and wonderful years. Škoda is really very special. An essential part of this is the large Škoda family, as well as the brand’s power and dynamism.”