Manfred Kantner (48), currently managing director of SEAT Deutschland GmbH, has been appointed head of Sales India/Far East at the Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand effective October 1.

He succeeds Dr. Wolf-Stefan Specht (45), who already took over as head of Sales Europe at the Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand on September 1. In their new functions, both managers report to Christian Klingler, Board Member for Sales and Marketing for the Volkswagen Group and the Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand. Bernhard Bauer (49) will succeed Manfred Kantner as Managing Director of SEAT Deutschland GmbH effective October 1.

Manfred Kantner joined the Volkswagen Group as Managing Director of SEAT Deutschland GmbH on December 1, 2011, having previously held responsibility for various sales functions for FIAT from 1992, latterly as Chief Executive Officer of Fiat Group Automobiles Germany AG.

Dr. Wolf-Stefan Specht holds a degree in mechanical engineering and joined the Volkswagen Group in 2001. He has held various senior management posts since 2004, becoming Head of Sales Northern Europe in 2008, and Head of Sales Central Europe at Volkswagen Passenger Cars in 2010. He was appointed Head of Sales India/Far East in March 2013.

Bernhard Bauer held various senior management positions at Volvo, latterly occupying the post of Managing Director of Volvo Car Germany in Cologne for approximately four years, before moving to SEAT in 2003.