Dr Stefan Sommer, former CEO of technology and component major ZF, has joined the Volkswagen Group as member of the executive Board for the procurement department, effective January 1, 2019 at the latest. 

Dr Sommer was CEO of ZF Friedrichshafen AG until the end of 2017. He replaces Dr. Francisco Javier Garcia Sanz, who left Volkswagen Group in April.

Dr. Stefan Sommer holds a doctorate in mechanical engineering, specialising in automation. He began his professional career in 1994 as a development engineer at ITT Automotive Group Europe in Frankfurt am Main. In 1997 he moved to Continental Automotive Systems in Hannover as Director of Electronics & Sensor Development. After several responsible functions within the Continental Corporation, most recently as Senior Vice President EBS Customer Center, in 2008 he was appointed member of the Executive Board, Chassis Division, of ZF Sachs AG in Schweinfurt. In 2010, he assumed responsibility for the materials management division of the Group Executive Board of ZF Friedrichshafen AG. In January 2012, Sommer was appointed Deputy Chairman of the Executive Board of ZF Friedrichshafen AG,