Executive Bodies

Management Board

Currently the Board of Management of Volkswagen AG comprises nine members. Each Board Member is responsible for one or more functions within the Volkswagen Group.

Dr. Oliver Blume is the Chairman.

The work of the Board of Management of Volkswagen AG is supported by the boards of the brands and regions as well as by the other group business units and holdings.

Chairman of the Board of Management of Volkswagen AG

Dr. Oliver Blume, Chairman of the Board of Management of Volkswagen AG and Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG

Portrait of Oliver Blume, CEO Volkswagen Group

The Supervisory Board of Volkswagen AG appointed Oliver Blume as a Chairman of the Board of Management of Volkswagen AG effective September 1, 2022, combining with his role as the Chairman of the Board of Management of Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG.


Blume was born June 6, 1968 in Brunswick. He holds a PhD in mechanical engineering and has been with the Volkswagen Group since 1994.


After graduating from high school, Blume began his studies at TU Braunschweig in 1988, and was awarded a degree in mechanical engineering in 1994. He completed his PhD thesis to receive the title of Doctor of Engineering in Vehicle Engineering from the Institute of Vehicle Technology at Tongji University, Shanghai, in 2001.


Blume already started his professional career in 1994, joining the international trainee program at AUDI AG. After roles in body construction planning and logistics, he held various senior management functions until 2006, including Head of Body Construction for the A3, Head of the AUDI AG Pilot Plant, and Head of Planning and the Pilot Series Centre at SEAT S.A. in Barcelona.


Blume moved to Wolfsburg as Head of Production Planning at the Volkswagen brand in 2009. He became the member of the Executive Board for Production and Logistics at Porsche AG in 2013. He was appointed Chairman of the Executive Board of Dr. Ing. h. c. F. Porsche AG in 2015 and since 2018, he was a Member of the Board of Management of Volkswagen AG.


Status: September, 2022

Members of the Board of Management of Volkswagen AG

Dr. Arno Antlitz, Finance and Operations

Dr. Arno Antlitz, Finance and Operations

Dr. Arno Antlitz was born March 30, 1970 in Premich, Lower Franconia, Germany. He studied industrial engineering at the Technical University Darmstadt, specializing in mechanical engineering, and earned his doctorate in political science (Dr. rer. pol.) at the Otto Beisheim School of Management (WHU).


In 1999, he started at the business consulting firm McKinsey & Company, where he was last employed as an Associate Principal. His areas of emphasis included strategy, organization optimization and cost optimization in the automotive and supplier industries.


Dr. Arno Antlitz joined Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft in 2004. Early in 2005, he was given responsibility for global product controlling at Volkswagen brand. Since January 1, 2010 Dr. Arno Antlitz was Member of the Volkswagen Brand Board of Management for „Controlling and Accounting“. From March 1, 2020 until March 31, 2021 Dr. Arno Antlitz was Chief Financial Officer of the AUDI Aktiengesellschaft in Ingolstadt.


The Supervisory Board of Volkswagen AG transferred responsibility for the business area Finance at Group level in the Board of Management to Dr. Arno Antlitz with effect from April 1, 2021.


Since September 1, 2022, he also holds the role of Chief Operating Officer (COO).



Status: September, 2022

Ralf Brandstätter, Member of the board of Volkswagen AG for China

Ralf Brandstätter, Member of the board of Volkswagen AG for China

Ralf Brandstätter was born in Brunswick on September 8, 1968.


He trained as a shopfitter at the Volkswagen plant in Brunswick. He then studied industrial engineering and joined the Volkswagen Group in 1993.


Following positions in international project steering in the procurement division, he became an assistant to the Board of Management in the General Secretariat of Volkswagen AG. In 1998 he took charge of metal procurement for chassis and powertrain components and was made project manager for new vehicle projects in 2003. In 2005 he moved to Spain as head of procurement.


He became the member of the SEAT Executive Committee responsible for Purchasing in 2008. Brandstätter was named Head of Group Procurement Exterieur in 2010. He was appointed Head of Group Purchasing New Product Launches in 2012 and was made a General Representative of Volkswagen AG in October 2015.


Ralf Brandstätter was appointed a member of the Board of Management of the Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand on December 9, 2015. He held responsibility for procurement from December 2015 to the end of February 2019.


Brandstätter has led the Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand as Chief Operating Officer (COO) since August 1, 2018.


Ralf Brandstätter became Chairman of the Board of Management (CEO) of the Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand on July 1, 2020.


Effective January 1, 2022, the Supervisory Board of Volkswagen AG appointed Ralf Brandstätter Member of the Board of Management of Volkswagen AG.


Status: January, 2022

Gernot Döllner, Chairman of the Board of Management and Board of Management Member for Technical Development at AUDI AG

Gernot Döllner, Chairman of the Board of Management of AUDI AG

Gernot Döllner, born in 1969, studied mechanical engineering as well as design engineering/vehicle technology in Braunschweig, Germany, and Waterloo, Canada.


In 1993, he joined Volkswagen AG as a doctoral student in Wolfsburg. Following his doctorate, he initially worked as a systems analyst.


In 1998, he moved to Porsche AG in Weissach, as project manager for reengineering. From 2001 to 2010, he was head of the Vehicle Concepts and Package department there. At the same time, he took over project management for the Porsche 918 Spyder in 2009/2010.


He then became the main department head of Product Strategy at Porsche AG before taking over as head of the Panamera model series from 2011 to 2018. After that, he was head of Product and Concept at Porsche AG.


In 2021, he returned to Wolfsburg, where he led the Group Strategy, the Group Product Strategy, and of the General Secretariat of Volkswagen AG.


The Supervisory Board of AUDI AG appointed Gernot Döllner as Chairman of the Board of Management of AUDI AG effective September 1, 2023. Since then, he has also been a member of the Board of Management of the Volkswagen Group and heads the Progressive brand group which includes Audi, Bentley, Lamborghini, and Ducati. He was additionally entrusted with Board of Management responsibility for Technical Development at AUDI AG effective March 9, 2024.


Status: March, 2024

Dr. Manfred Döss, Integrity and Legal Affairs

Dr. Manfred Döss, Integrity and Legal Affairs

Dr. Manfred Döss was born in 1958 in Bad Kreuznach (Germany).


He studied law at the Johannes Gutenberg University in Mainz, Germany. After his post-graduate clerkship in 1987, he received his doctorate in 1990. Dr. Döss started his career at Metallgesellschaft AG (today Gea AG) in the Legal department. In 1996, he became head of the Legal department and in 1994, he also became representative of senior executives in the co-determined Supervisory Board of Metallgesellschaft AG.


From 2005 to 2013, Dr. Döss worked as head of the Legal department of RWE AG. From 2007 to 2009, he also served as non-executive director during the initial public offering of American Water Works Co. Inc., Voorhees (NJ), USA, a former subsidiary of the RWE Group. From 2013 to 2015, Dr. Döss served as head of the Legal department of Porsche Automobil Holding SE.


Since 2016, Dr. Döss has served as member of the Management Board of Porsche Automobil Holding SE, responsible for Legal and Compliance.


The Supervisory Board of Volkswagen AG has appointed Dr. Manfred Döss to the Group Board of Management where he will be responsible for “integrity and legal affairs”, effective February 1, 2022.


Status: February, 2022

Gunnar Kilian, Member of the Board of Management of Volkswagen AG, Human Resources and Truck & Bus

Gunnar Kilian, Human Resources and Truck & Bus

The Supervisory Board of Volkswagen AG appointed Gunnar Kilian as a member of the Board of Management of Volkswagen AG with functional responsibility for "Human Resources" effective April 13, 2018, and with functional responsibility for the "Truck & Bus" division on the Group Board of Management since July 16, 2020.


Kilian was born on January 31, 1975 in Westerland/Sylt and has worked for the Volkswagen Group since 2000. He started his career in 1995 with a traineeship at a newspaper, followed by positions as an editor and, from 2000, as a public relations officer at Volkswagen AG.


From 2003, Kilian ran the office of a member of the German Bundestag and returned to Volkswagen AG in 2006. Here he took on the role of press spokesperson for the Group Works Council. In 2012, Kilian moved to the Salzburg office of the Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Volkswagen AG. In 2013, he returned to Wolfsburg as secretary general and managing director of the Group Works Council before being appointed to the Board of Management of Volkswagen AG in 2018.


Gunnar Kilian is also Chairman of the Supervisory Boards of MAN Energy Solutions, Autostadt GmbH, Volkswagen Immobilien GmbH, Wolfsburg AG, Volkswagen Group Services GmbH and a member of the Supervisory Boards of, among others, Audi, Scania, MAN, TRATON and PowerCo. He is also Chairman of the Latin America Committee of German Business (LADW).


Kilian has engaged in voluntary work for many years, for example as Chairman of the Volkswagen Belegschaftsstiftung (Volkswagen Employee Foundation) and also as a member of the Stiftungsrat (Board of Trustees) of the International Youth Meeting Center in Auschwitz.


Status: June, 2023

Thomas Schäfer, CEO of the Volkswagen Passenger Cars Brand, Member of the Volkswagen AG Board of Management in charge of the Brand Group Core

Portrait of Thomas Schäfer

Thomas Schäfer was born in Marburg, Germany, in 1970. He entered the automotive industry through a dual study program at Daimler AG and graduated with a degree in mechanical engineering in 1994. He held various management positions in the areas of production and quality assurance in Germany, the USA and South Africa at Daimler until 2002. From 2002 to 2005, he was a founding member of DaimlerChrysler Malaysia as the Board Member for Technology. At the Stuttgart headquarters, Schäfer was responsible for vehicle deliveries, customer centres and the global CKD business in emerging markets between 2005 and 2012.


In May 2012, Schäfer moved to Volkswagen AG, where he headed up the Group’s International Production and was responsible for CKD projects and negotiations on new production sites.


From 2015, he held the position of Chairman and Managing Director of Volkswagen Group South Africa and was responsible for the development of the Group brands in the sub-Saharan Africa region.


Schäfer became CEO of ŠKODA AUTO in August 2020. He launched the new corporate strategy NEXT LEVEL – ŠKODA STRATEGY 2030, advanced the electrification of the model portfolio and laid the foundation for becoming the leading European brand in growth regions like India and North Africa.


Thomas Schäfer assumed the position of Chief Operating Officer of the Volkswagen brand on 1 April 2022.


Since 1 July 2022, he has been a member of the Group Board of Management, CEO of the Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand and Head of the Brand Group Core.


Status: June, 2023

Thomas Schmall-von Westerholt, Technology

Thomas Schmall-von Westerholt, Technology

The Volkswagen AG Supervisory Board appointed Thomas Schmall-von Westerholt as member of the Volkswagen AG Board of Management responsible for Technology as of 1 January 2021.


Thomas Schmall-von Westerholt was born in Frankfurt on 9 January 1964. After leaving school, he studied business management and labour and organisational psychology at the University of Giessen.


The business administration graduate joined the Volkswagen Group in 1991. Following posts in industrial engineering in Wolfsburg, Mexico and South Africa, Schmall-von Westerholt moved to Volkswagen do Brasil in 1999, becoming manager of the Curitiba plant one year later.


Mr. Schmall-von Westerholt joined Volkswagen Slovakia as Board member for Technology in 2003, becoming Chairman of the Volkswagen Slovakia Board of Management based at the Bratislava plant two years later.


Thomas Schmall-von Westerholt was appointed CEO of Volkswagen do Brasil in 2007. He also held the post of Vice President of the São Paulo German-Brazilian Chamber of Commerce between 2009 and 2013 and was then elected President of the Chamber until March 2015.


Thomas Schmall-von Westerholt was appointed member of the Volkswagen Brand Board of Management responsible for Components effective 1 January 2015. Thomas Schmall-von Westerholt has been CEO of Volkswagen Group Components, an autonomous corporate unit under the umbrella of Volkswagen AG, since 1 January 2019. In this role he supervised the transformation of the division into a stand-alone unit. Mr Schmall-von Westerholt shaped this transition, above all, with an eye on adequate return on investment to ensure self-financing in all business areas. Under central management, Components increased its competitiveness, achieved synergies, optimised plant utilisation and investment planning - with the objective of making a lasting positive and sustainable value contribution to the Volkswagen Group’s operating profit.


As the member of the Volkswagen AG Board of Management responsible for Technology, Mr Schmall-von Westerholt is, as of 1 January 2021, responsible throughout the Group for all activities at Volkswagen Group Components of which he remains Chairman of the Board of Management. New developments include the marketing of Volkswagen modular toolkits to third parties, the cross-brand responsibility for the development and production of battery cells and systems as well as the corresponding procurement processes. The Board-level management function for Technology also has the global responsibility for Charging and Energy.


Status: January, 2021

Hauke Stars, IT

Hauke Stars, IT

Stars was born on June 3, 1967. She studied applied computer science at the Technical University of Magdeburg and studied further in the UK, graduating as a Master of Science in Engineering. Her whole working life has also been closely tied to information technology.


Stars began her professional career in the IT division of Bertelsmann at the beginning of the 1990s. She moved to the IT service provider Triaton in 1998, where she was initially in charge of software development and, from 2000 on, the member of the Management Board responsible for sales and marketing. Triaton was acquired by Hewlett Packard (HP) in 2004, with the result that Stars continued her career at this global IT group. She was responsible at HP for IT services business in the Netherlands and, from 2007, was Managing Director of HP’s local organization in Switzerland.


In 2012 she joined the Executive Board of the DAX 40 company Deutsche Börse AG, where she was responsible for IT, capital market business and human resources (as Labor Director) until 2020.


The technology and financial market expert has also held seats on various Supervisory Boards since 2009, currently with Supervisory Board mandates at the power company RWE and the logistics company Kühne+Nagel.


The Supervisory Board of Volkswagen AG has appointed Hauke Stars as a member of the Board of Management of Volkswagen AG with functional responsibility for ‘IT’ effective February 1, 2022. In this capacity, Stars is responsible for all Group-wide activities in the areas of IT, data, organizational development and process management.


Status: March, 2022

Members of the Supervisory Board

The Supervisory Board is responsible for monitoring the Management and approving important corporate decisions. Moreover, it appoints the Members of the Board of Management.

The Supervisory Board of Volkswagen AG comprises 20 members and conforms to the German Co-determination Act.

Hans Dieter Pötsch, Chairman

Hans Dieter Pötsch, Chairman

Hans Dieter Pötsch has been a member of the Supervisory Board of Volkswagen AG since October 7, 2015.


Mr Pötsch was born in Traun, Austria, on March 28, 1951. He studied industrial engineering at the Technical University of Darmstadt, Germany, from 1973 to 1979. He worked in Controlling at BMW AG in Munich, Germany, from 1979, and subsequently took up the position of Head of Controlling at BMW AG in 1984, serving in this function until 1987. He became General Manager for Finance and Administration at Trumpf GmbH & Co. KG from 1987 to 1991. He served as Chairman of the Board of Management of Traub AG from 1991 to 1995, and was Chairman of the Board of Management at Dürr AG from 1995 to 2002.


Mr Pötsch served as Group Board of Management member with responsibility for Finance & Controlling at Volkswagen AG from 2003 to 2015. He has served as Board member for Finance at Porsche Automobil Holding SE from 2009 to 2022. Since 2015 Mr. Pötsch serves as Chairman of the Executive Board of Porsche Automobil Holding SE and Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Volkswagen AG.


Among his other mandates, Hans Dieter Pötsch is a member of the Supervisory Board of Bertelsmann SE & Co. KGaA in Gütersloh, Germany.


Hans Dieter Pötsch has specialist knowledge and experience of the automotive industry thanks to his years of work as Chief Finance Officer for Volkswagen AG. Furthermore, he has extensive knowledge and experience in the areas of corporate strategy, vehicle manufacture/sale, finance and accounting, taxes, capital markets, management/supervision, law/compliance, human resources, as well as particular expertise in the North America market. In addition, he is particularly experienced in interacting and working with government and authorities, industry associations, and trade unions and special knowledge on the subject of sustainability/ESG – environment, social and governance. Given his knowledge and experience, the Supervisory Board of Volkswagen AG has appointed Mr. Pötsch as its ESG officer.


Status: February 23, 2024

Dr. Hessa Sultan Al Jaber, Former Minister of Information and Communications Technology, Qatar

Dr. Hessa Sultan Al Jaber, Former Minister of Information and Communications Technology, Qatar

Dr. Hessa S. Al Jaber has been a member of the Supervisory Board of Volkswagen AG since 22 June 2016.


Dr. Al Jaber is the Chairperson of the Board of Directors (non-executive) of Trioinvestment, an investment company that invests in innovative technology that addresses some of the most pressing problems in MENA region.


Dr. Al Jaber is the Chairperson of the Board of Directors (non-executive) of Qatar Satellite Company (Es’hailSat) and Malomatia Q.S.C. (Information Technology Services & Solutions). In addition, Dr. Al Jaber is the Vice-Chair as well as an independent member in the Board of Directors (non-executive) of MEEZA QSTP-LLC (Public) (IT Services & Solutions Provider).


Beyond her corporate commitments, Dr. Al Jaber plays a pivotal role in academia, serving as member of Qatar University’s Board of Regents and guiding the Qatar Community College Board. Her membership on the American School Board of Trustees highlights her dedication to promoting education and academic excellence.


She is a member of United Nations ITU Broadband Commission for Sustainable development and Co-Chair of Broadband providing strategic insights into global ICT sustainability.


Dr. Al Jaber served as a member of the Shura Council Consultative Assembly from 2017 until 2021 and was Qatar's Minister of Information and Communication Technology. Her prior role as the Secretary General of the Supreme Council of Information and Communication Technology (ictQATAR) further underscores her unwavering commitment to public service.


During her tenure as minister, Dr. Al Jaber catalyzed the liberalization of Qatar's telecommunications market, ushering in an era of expanded choice and heightened competition. Her visionary leadership spearheaded the modernization of Qatar’s ICT infrastructure, most notably establishing the Qatar National Broadband Network. Her profound impact also extended to streamlining government processes, promoting transparency, and enhancing accessibility through pioneering e-government initiatives.


Dr. Al Jaber has led numerous initiatives to make Qatar a more inclusive society through ICT with the creation of the Qatar Assistive Technology Center (MADA), empowering people with disabilities in Qatar, and was instrumental in the streamlining of processes to make the Government more transparent and accessible with the e-Government initiatives.


Dr. Al Jaber holds a Bachelor of Science in Engineering from Kuwait University, and a Master's Degree and Ph.D. in Computer Science from George Washington University, Washington, DC.


Dr. Al Jaber's enduring legacy is defined by her dedication to advancing technology, empowering communities, and shaping a brighter future for the MENA region and beyond. Her transformative influence continues to resonate across industries, cementing her position as a beacon of innovation and progress.


Dr. Al Jaber has extensive knowledge and experience in the areas of corporate strategy, sales/marketing, research/development, finance and accounting, capital markets, management/supervision, law/compliance, digitalization/IT and of the automotive industry, in particular in the field of electric mobility.


Status: February 22, 2024

Mansoor Bin Ebrahim Al-Mahmoud, Chief Executive Officer Qatar Investment Authority

Mansoor Bin Ebrahim Al-Mahmoud, Chief Executive Officer Qatar Investment Authority

Mr Al-Mahmoud has been a member of the Supervisory Board of Volkswagen AG since 12 May 2022.


Since 29 July 2022, Mr. Al-Mahmoud has also been Chairman of the Audit Committee of the Supervisory Board of Volkswagen AG.


Mr Al-Mahmoud was appointed Chief Executive Officer of QIA in September 2018. Under his oversight, QIA has pivoted its investment strategy to have a greater focus on diversification and on investments that have clear ESG goals. Mr Al-Mahmoud has also overseen the adoption of a new operating model.


Prior to his appointment at QIA, Mr Al-Mahmoud was the CEO of Qatar Museums, where he led the opening of the National Museum of Qatar.


His previous roles include being CEO of Qatar Development Bank (QDB), Director of Investment Affairs for H.E. the Former Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Head of Risk Management at QIA.


Mr Al-Mahmoud holds a number of government and board roles, including: Vice-Chairman of Qatar Exchange, the Doha- Based International stock exchange; Vice-Chairman of Qatar Airways; Special Advisor to Qatar Museums’ Chairperson, H.E. Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani; and board member for QNB, Qatari Diar, the Doha Film Institute and Hamad Bin Khalifa University.


Mr Al-Mahmoud holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and Finance from George Washington University in the US.


Mr Al-Mahmoud has extensive knowledge and experience in the areas of automotive industry, finance and accounting, corporate strategy, management/supervision, capital markets and human resources. In addition, he is particularly experienced in interacting and working with government, authorities, universities and the press. He also has special knowledge on the subject of sustainability/ESG – environment, social and governance.


Status: February 22, 2024

Rita Beck, Deputy Chairwoman of the Works Council AUDI Ingolstadt

Portrait of Rita Beck

Rita Beck has been a member of the Supervisory Board of Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft since 09 January 2024.


Rita Beck was born on 16 November 1970 in the German town of Koesching near Ingolstadt. From 1986 to 1990, she trained as a tool mechanic and went on to qualify as an auditor and Certified Manager (European Business Competence* Licence - EBC*L).


Following her apprenticeship, Rita Beck worked as a safety parts inspector in quality assurance at AUDI AG from 1990 to 1997. She then worked as a quality specialist for three years. From 2000 to 2008, she worked as an auditor and then as a quality technician at Audi.


In 2002, Rita Beck became a member of the Works Council at the AUDI plant in Ingolstadt, where she has been a member of the Executive Works Committee since 2014. In 2016, Rita Beck became a member of the Audi General Works Council and the Economic Committee of AUDI AG. In the same year, she was also elected to the Supervisory Board of AUDI AG.


In addition to her membership there, she has also been a member of the Supervisory Board of CARIAD SE since 09 January 2024 and the Executive Committee of the Porsche SE Works Council since 01 January 2024.

In addition to her professional commitments, Rita Beck is a member of the local executive committee of the trade union IG Metall Ingolstadt and the collective bargaining commission of IG Metall in the Bavarian district. She has also been an honorary judge at the Munich Labour Court since 2013.

Mrs Beck has special knowledge and experience in the automotive industry. She has in-depth knowledge and experience in the areas of vehicle manufacturing/distribution and production planning, quality assurance, personnel and personnel management as well as employees' matters. She also has particular experience in dealing and co-operating with politicians, authorities, associations and the media.


Status: February 22, 2024

Harald Buck, Chairman of the General Works Council and Group Works Council of Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG

Harald Buck, Chairman of the General Works Council and Group Works Council of Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG

Harald Buck has been a member of the Supervisory Board of Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft since 4 October 2022.


He was born in Stuttgart on 2 January 1962, and initially completed training as an automotive mechanic at the Hahn Sportwagen company, where he subsequently worked. In 1985, he joined Porsche AG as automotive mechanic in engine construction.


From 1990, Harald Buck was involved in co-determination as a shop steward at Porsche. From 1995 onwards, he was a member of the shop stewards' leading committee. Since 2002, Harald Buck has been a member of the Works Council of Porsche AG and, since 2018, also a member of the General and Group Works Council there. Since 2019, he has been a member of the supervisory board of Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG.


From 2019 to 2022, Harald Buck was deputy Chairman on the Works Council as well as the General and Group Works Council of Porsche AG. He has been the Chairman of these bodies since May and June 2022, respectively.


Harald Buck has specialist knowledge and experience of the automotive industry. Furthermore, he has in-depth knowledge and experience in the areas of vehicle manufacture/sale, human resources as well as employee matters. In addition, he is a specialist in the topic of company pension plans and has particular experience in cooperation with politics and trade unions due to his many years of activity in co-determination.


Status: February 22, 2024

Daniela Cavallo, Chairwoman of the General and Group Works Councils of Volkswagen AG

Daniela Cavallo, Chairwoman of the General and Group Works Councils of Volkswagen AG

Daniela Cavallo has been a member of the Supervisory Board of Volkswagen AG since 11 May 2021.


Daniela Cavallo was born in Wolfsburg on 03 April 1975. She is an Italian citizen and also holds German citizenship since September 2021. In 1994, she passed her A Levels in Wolfsburg and began a commercial apprenticeship at Volkswagen AG. After her apprenticeship, Daniela Cavallo worked as a trainer at the former VW Coaching (now Group Academy) and qualified extra-occupational as a business economist. After holding positions in the youth and trainee representation and in the shop stewards' executive committee, she became an elected member of the works council in 2002, initially with responsibility for the Auto 5000 labour market policy project.


From 2010 onwards, Cavallo was a divisional works council member in Wolfsburg, responsible, among other things, for human resources, organisational development, VW Coaching (today‘s Group Academy) and VW‘s Consulting. From 2013 onwards, as a member of the managing works committee at the Wolfsburg plant, she headed a coordination area with around 7000 employees. Also since 2013, Cavallo has been a member of the general works council and, at this level, chair of the committee for basic personnel regulations, which deals with personnel management and personnel policy issues. Daniela Cavallo negotiated the field of personnel transformation at the "Zukunftspakt" (pact for the future) in 2016.


At the beginning of 2019, Daniela Cavallo moved up to the position of Deputy Chairperson of the General and Group Works Council. Since the end of April 2021, she has been Chairwoman of the Works Council at the Wolfsburg site and Chairwoman of the General Works Council and since May 2021 Chairwoman of the Group Works Council. Daniela Cavallo has been Deputy Chairwoman of the Supervisory Board of Volkswagen Financial Services AG since the beginning of 2019. Since 2021, she is a member of the Supervisory Board of Traton SE, Porsche Holding Gesellschaft m.b.H. Salzburg, , SEAT, S.A. as well as Skoda Auto a.s. Since June 2022, Daniela Cavallo has also been Deputy Chairwoman of the Supervisory Board of PowerCo SE and member of the Supervisory Board of Brose Sitech Sp. z o.o.


Daniela Cavallo has in-depth knowledge of the automotive industry and collective bargaining policy thanks to her many years of work in various company and trade union co-determination committees and on supervisory boards. In addition to that, she has special knowledge and experience in the areas of labour relations and governmental relations. Ms Cavallo has extensive experience in the fields of accounting and auditing, particularly in the automotive industry. She has continuously contributed her in-depth expertise of national and international legal aspects and compliance requirements to various committees and supervisory boards. She also has outstanding skills in the area of sustainability and ESG. Her experience includes in particular the integration of sustainability aspects into corporate decision-making processes and responsible corporate governance. Daniela Cavallo also has particular experience in working with associations, NGOs and especially with trade unions.


Status: February 22, 2024

Matías Carnero Sojo, Chairman of the General Works Council of SEAT

Matías Carnero Sojo, Chairman of the General Works Council of SEAT

Matías Carnero has been a member of the Supervisory Board of Volkswagen AG since 1 April 2021. Matías Carnero was born on 4 April 1968 in Barcelona. In 1987, he joined SEAT as an assembly worker at the Barcelona plant and later became a foreman. In 1988, he was elected as a delegate of the union. In 1999, he became Chairman of the SEAT works council in Martorell, and in 2003 general secretary and spokesman for the UGT union at SEAT. Since 2003 Mr Carnero has been a member of the Presidium of the European and Global Group Works Council in the Volkswagen Group. He has been President of the UGT Catalunya since 2016.


Due to his diverse, decade-long activities in various bodies of company and trade union co-determination, Mr Carnero has in-depth knowledge and experience of the automotive industry and collective bargaining policy. In addition, he has special knowledge and experience in the areas of vehicle manufacture/sale, management/supervision, law/compliance, government relations, human resources as well as employee matters. He also has special experience in cooperation with politics, associations and especially trade unions.


Status: February 22, 2024

Julia Willie Hamburg, Ministry of Education of Lower Saxony

Julia Willie Hamburg, Lower Saxony’s Minister of Education and Cultural Affairs

Julia Willie Hamburg has been a member of the Supervisory Board of Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft since her appointment on 8 November 2022.


Ms Hamburg was born in Hannover on 26 June 1986. In 2004, she commenced her studies in political science, philosophy and German studies at the Georg August University of Göttingen.


Julia Willie Hamburg has been a representative of the State Parliament of Lower Saxony since 19 February 2013. She was appointed Lower Saxony’s Minister of Education and Cultural Affairs and Deputy Minister President on 8 November 2022.


She has been a longstanding member of boards of trustees and advisory committees in the area of political education and memorials.


Thanks to her many years of political work, Julia Willie Hamburg is particularly experienced in interacting and working with government and authorities, industry associations, trade unions, and the press. She has also special knowledge in the areas of management/supervision and sustainability/ESG (environment, social and governance).


Status: February 22, 2024

Marianne Heiß, Member of the Supervisory Board

Marianne Heiß, CEO of BBDO Group Germany GmbH

Marianne Heiß has been a member of the Supervisory Board of Volkswagen AG since 14 February 2018.


She was born on 2 November 1972 in Krems an der Donau, Austria. From 1998 to 2002, Ms Heiß studied Accounting & Auditing, and Management, Organisation and Human Resources at the University of Applied Sciences Wiener Neustadt.


Marianne Heiß began as a bookkeeper at the tax consultancy STABILA in Vienna in 1989.


She worked at Dr. Röhricht – Dr. Schillen, an auditing firm and tax consultancy company in Bielefeld, from 1991 to 1993.


As Head of the Administrations Office at the Dorint AG in Hamelin from 1993 to 1996, Marianne Heiß was responsible for the Finance and Accounting department and Human Resources.


In 1996, Marianne Heiß moved to the advertising and communications sector, starting at the BBDO Group, a leading company in its field in Germany.


Her initial post there was Head of Finance and Accounting for the outsourcing specialist SELLBYTEL (Nuremberg) until 1998. From 1999 to 2002, she was the Financial Director of the agencies of BBDO Austria.


As management consultant at BBDO Services GmbH in Düsseldorf from 2002 to 2005, Marianne Heiß was responsible for the integration of new agencies. Marianne Heiß was responsible for the BBDO agencies in Berlin, Düsseldorf and Stuttgart as CFO from 2006 to 2011, until she took on responsibility for 18 European countries as the European Finance Director of BBDO Europe with headquarters in London. She held this position from 2011 to 2013.


In June 2013, she was appointed as CFO of the BBDO Group Germany GmbH which has been operating in Germany since 1956. From March 2019 until April 2023 Ms Heiß was the CEO of the BBDO Group Germany GmbH.


At the end of 2004, Gabler Verlag published her book Strategisches Kostenmanagement in der Praxis (Strategic Cost Management in Practice), followed by YES SHE CAN – Die Zukunft des Management ist weiblich (YES SHE CAN – The Future of Management is Female) in May 2011. From 2015 until 2017, Marianne Heiß was Vice President of the Gesamtverbandes Kommunikationsagenturen (German Association of Communication Agencies).


Marianne Heiß has extensive knowledge and experience in the areas of corporate strategy, sales and marketing, finance and accounting, management/supervision, law/compliance, digitalization/IT, human resources and of the automotive industry, in particular in the field of electric mobility as well as particular expertise in the North America market. Marianne Heiß has also special knowledge on the subject of ESG (environment, social and governance), in particular with regard to corporate social responsibility. She is also an expert on ESG on the Supervisory Board of Porsche SE as well as a member of the Supervisory Boards of Audi AG and Flix SE.


Marianne Heiß also is a member auf the Audit Committee of Volkswagen AG and holds the chair in the Audit Committee of Flix SE. 


Status: February 22, 2024

Jörg Hofmann, IG Metall

Jörg Hofmann, IG Metall

Jörg Hofmann has been a member of the Supervisory Board of Volkswagen AG since 20 November 2015.


Jörg Hofmann was born in Oppelsbohm, Germany, on 3 December 1955.


After obtaining his Abitur (higher school-leaving certificate) in 1975, Jörg Hofmann trained in the agricultural sector from 1975 to 1976. He studied economics and sociology at the universities of Stuttgart-Hohenheim, Germany, Paris, France, and Bremen, Germany, from 1975 to 1984, graduating with a degree in economics.


He was a research associate at the Institute for Industrial Management of the University of Stuttgart-Hohenheim, Germany, from 1982 to 1984. He worked for IG Metall as an expert on new technologies and work organization from 1982 to 1987. Jörg Hofmann served as trade union secretary for the local IG Metall organization in Stuttgart, Germany, from 1987 to 1999, and was responsible for establishing the local office of IG Metall in Dresden in 1990 and 1991.


He served as the bargaining policy and negotiations official for the regional council in Baden-Württemberg from 2000 to 2003, and subsequently served as IG Metall’s regional director for Baden-Württemberg until 2013. He was elected Vice Chairman of IG Metall in 2013 and has been first Chairman of IG Metall since 20 October 2015.


Jörg Hofmann is President of IndustriAll Global Union and a member of the Supervisory Board of Robert Bosch GmbH. Jörg Hofmann is a holder of the Baden-Württemberg Enterprise Medal.


Jörg Hofmann has specialist knowledge and experience of the automotive industry thanks to his decades of work for IG Metall in Baden-Württemberg. Furthermore, he has extensive knowledge and experience in the areas of corporate strategy, management/supervision, electric mobility, human resources, employee matters and sustainability/ESG – environment, social and governance. In addition, he is particularly experienced in interacting and working with government and authorities, industry associations, trade unions, and the press.


Status: February 22, 2024

Dr. Arno Homburg, Chairman of the Board of Management of Volkswagen Management Association (VMA)

Dr. Arno Homburg, Chairman of the Board of Management of Volkswagen Management Association (VMA)

Dr.-Ing. Arno Homburg has been a member of the Supervisory Board of Volkswagen AG since 12 May 2022.


Dr Homburg was born in Wiesbaden on 17 August 1968. After having acquired his university-entrance diploma (German Abitur) in Wiesbaden, he trained as a reserve officer in the German Armed Forces (Bundeswehr). He then studied mechanical engineering at the Technical University of Brunswick, specialising in internal combustion engines and automotive engineering. In February 1995, Dr. Homburg began his career at the Volkswagen Group as a doctoral student in the Engine Research Department. His doctoral thesis focused on optical analysis options for optimising direct-injection petrol engines.


From August 1998 onwards, Dr. Homburg was responsible for the newly created Transparent Engine Centre in the Engine Research Department. In October 1999, he was appointed Personal Assistant to the Head of Volkswagen Group Research. In May 2002, Dr. Homburg took over responsibility for marketing, sponsoring and promotion of young talent in VW Motorsport. Also from May 2002, he was Head of Group Motorsport and Personal Assistant to the Chairman of the Board of Bentley Motors. In May 2007, he took over the management of Bentley Motors' Overall Vehicle Development in Crewe, England.


This was followed from July 2010 by positions as Head of Product Management for the mid-/fullsize product line at Volkswagen Passenger Cars and, from October 2011, Head of Product Management for the VW Phaeton luxury sedan.


From January 2016, Dr. Homburg was Head of Group Overall Vehicle Development and from April 2019, he was responsible for the Technical Conformity Division at AUDI AG. In October 2020, Dr. Homburg took over as Head of the Central Production Pilot Hall at the core brand Volkswagen Passenger Cars in Wolfsburg, where vehicle projects take the final path for series-production readiness. Since May 2022, Dr. Homburg has been Chairman of the Volkswagen Management Association (VMA), the body representing the interests of the Group's senior managers.


Due to his many years in various management positions within the Volkswagen Group, Dr. Arno Homburg has special knowledge and experience of the automotive industry. He has in-depth knowledge and experience particularly in the areas of drive technology, vehicle project management, vehicle development and motorsport as well as on the regulatory requirements for vehicle lifecycles in the automotive industry. He has also special knowledge and experience on the subjects of vehicle manufacture/sale, research/development, management/supervision, law and compliance, human resources, employee matters as well as sustainability/ESG (environment, social and governance).


Status: February 22, 2024

Dr. Günther Horvath, Managing Director and at the same time self-employed Lawyer of Dr. Günther J. Horvath Rechtsanwalt GmbH

Dr. Günther Horvath, Managing Director of Dr. Günther J. Horvath Rechtsanwalt GmbH and self-employed attorney

Dr. Günther Horvath has been a member of the Supervisory Board of Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft since 28 February 2023.


Dr. Horvath was born in Salzburg, Austria on 28 July 1952. After studying law at the University of Graz, Austria from 1970 to 1976, he completed a master’s programme in comparative law at New York University, New York City, New York, USA.


In 1981, Dr. Horvath was admitted to the Austrian bar as an attorney (Rechtsanwalt). From 1982 to 2017, he was a partner at the law firm Heller Löber Bahn & Partner, which now operates as Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer Rechtsanwälte PartG mbB, Vienna, Austria. Since 2018, Dr. Horvath has been Owner and Managing Director of Dr. Günther J. Horvath Rechtsanwalt GmbH, Vienna, Austria. From 2011 to 2013, he was a member of the ICC International Court of Arbitration, Paris, France, and from 2017 to 2022, he was President of the Vienna International Arbitral Center (VIAC), Vienna, Austria.


Since 2018, Dr. Horvath has been a member of Supervisory Board of Porsche Automobil Holding SE, Stuttgart. From 1993 to 2014, he was also a member and Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Management Services Aktiengesellschaft, Salzburg, Austria.


Moreover, Dr. Horvath has been Managing Director of DREHBONSI GmbH, Salzburg, Austria, since 2017. In addition, he belongs to a number of executive boards of foundations, primarily as chairman. These are, in particular, IKBE Privatstiftung, Wels, Austria (Chairman), Melodie Privatstiftung, Vienna, Austria (Chairman), Hohensalzburg Privatstiftung, Salzburg, Austria (Chairman), Ferdinand Porsche Privatstiftung, Salzburg, Austria (Chairman), Familie Porsche Privatstiftung, Salzburg, Austria (Chairman), Louise Privatstiftung, Salzburg, Austria (Chairman), Ferdinand Porsche Familien-Privatstiftung, Salzburg, Austria (Chairman), ASTOR Privatstiftung, Linz, Austria (Deputy Chairman) and Roth Privatstiftung, Graz, Austria.


Dr. Horvath has extensive knowledge and experience in the automotive industry. In addition, he has special knowledge and experience in the areas of management/supervision, law/compliance as well as human resources.


Status: February 22, 2024

Daniela Nowak, Chairwoman of the Works Council of Volkswagen AG Braunschweig

Daniela Nowak, Chairwoman of the Works Council of Volkswagen AG Braunschweig

Daniela Nowak has been a member of the Supervisory Board of Volkswagen AG since 12 May 2022.


Daniela Nowak was born in Brunswick on 28 August 1970. From 1986 to 1989, she trained as a tool mechanic at the VW component plant in Brunswick.


She then worked as a production worker in the axle assembly. In 1996, she completed her training as a technician specialising in design engineering at the Brunswick State Technical School.


Daniela Nowak has been a member of the works council since May 1994. In the course of her work with the works council, she has gained extensive qualifications on issues such as working hours and staffing levels. Ms Nowak has been Chairperson of the works council at the Brunswick plant since May 2021. Also since May 2021, Daniela Nowak has been a member of the so-called make-or-buy committee, in which the Volkswagen Group decides on external or in-house production.


Due to her many years of work in the Volkswagen Group, Daniela Nowak has special knowledge and experience of the automotive industry. In addition, she has in-depth knowledge and experience particularly on issues of vehicle manufacture/sale, for example with regard to component production, the automotive supply industry and aspects of the depth of added value in automotive production. In addition to an affinity for technical contexts, Ms Nowak has special knowledge and experience in the area of employee matters, in particular with regard to corporate and trade union codetermination, and in cooperation with trade unions.


Status: February 22, 2024

Dr. jur. Hans Michel Piëch, Lawyer

Dr. jur. Hans Michel Piëch, Lawyer

Dr. Hans Michel Piëch has been a member of the Supervisory Board of Volkswagen AG since 2009.


Dr. Piëch was born in Vienna, Austria, on 10 January 1942. He was awarded his Matura (upper secondary diploma) in 1963 and subsequently graduated from the University of Vienna with a degree in law in 1968. He obtained a doctorate in law in 1970.


He began his professional career with Gulf Oil in Pittsburgh, USA, in 1970. He became managing director of Porsche KG in Stuttgart, Germany, in 1971. From 1977 to January 2021 Dr. Piëch practiced as an independent attorney.


Dr. Piëch has been a member of the Supervisory Board of Porsche Holding GmbH in Salzburg, Austria, since 1975 and a member of the Supervisory Board of Porsche AG, Stuttgart, Germany, since 1989. He has been a member of the Supervisory Board of Porsche Automobil Holding SE since 2007, and since 2009, he is a member of the Supervisory Board of AUDI AG, part of the Executive Committee of Audi AG since 2016 and part of the Executive Committee of Volkswagen AG since June 2020.


Dr. Piëch has specialist knowledge and experience of the automotive industry thanks to his years of work for the respective supervisory bodies, at Porsche Holding in Salzburg and Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG in Stuttgart since the beginning of the 90s. Furthermore, he has extensive knowledge and experience in the areas of law/compliance including capital markets, management/supervision, corporate strategy and international sales and marketing as well as human resources. In addition, he is particularly experienced in interacting and working with trade unions and the press.


Status: February 22, 2024

Dr. jur. Ferdinand Oliver Porsche, Member of the Board of Management of Familie Porsche AG Beteiligungsgesellschaft

Dr. jur. Ferdinand Oliver Porsche, Member of the Board of Management of Familie Porsche AG Beteiligungsgesellschaft

Dr. Ferdinand Oliver Porsche has been a member of the Supervisory Board of Volkswagen AG since 7 August 2009.


Dr. Ferdinand Oliver Porsche was born in Stuttgart, Germany, on 13 March 1961. He studied law at the University of Salzburg, graduating with a Masters degree in law in 1990. After that, he worked for four years at Ernst & Young in tax consultancy and final audit. He received his doctorate in law in 1992. Dr. Ferdinand Oliver Porsche studied business administration at the University of Toronto, Canada, from 1994 to 1995.


Dr. Ferdinand Oliver Porsche served as managing director of Porsche Design Management GmbH & Co. KG, Salzburg, Austria, from 1994 to 2004. He has been managing director of Real Estate Holding GmbH, Salzburg, Austria, since 2002. He has served on the executive board of Familie Porsche AG Beteiligungsgesellschaft in Salzburg, Austria, since 2003, and as managing director of Neckar GmbH, Salzburg, Austria, since 2015.


Dr. Ferdinand Oliver Porsche is a member of the Supervisory Board of Dr. Ing. h. c. F. Porsche AG, AUDI AG, Porsche Holding Gesellschaft m.b.H., Porsche Automobil Holding SE.


Futhermore, Dr. Ferdinand Oliver Porsche is a deputy chairman of the Supervisory Board of the nonprofit company Lebenshilfe Salzburg.


Dr. Ferdinand Oliver Porsche has specialist knowledge and experience of the automotive industry thanks to his role as a managing director and his years of work for the respective supervisory bodies. Furthermore, he has extensive knowledge and experience in the areas of vehicle sale /marketing, finance and accounting, management/supervision, law/compliance, and human resources. In addition, he is particularly experienced in interacting and working with industry associations.


Status: February 22, 2024

Dr. rer. comm. Wolfgang Porsche, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Porsche Automobil Holding SE and Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG

Dr. jur. Ferdinand Oliver Porsche, Member of the Board of Management of Familie Porsche AG Beteiligungsgesellschaft

Dr. Wolfgang Porsche has been a member of the Supervisory Board of Volkswagen AG since 24 April 2008.


Dr. Wolfgang Porsche was born in Stuttgart, Germany, on 10 May 1943. After obtaining his Abitur (higher school-leaving certificate) and passing his journeyman’s examination as a metalworker, he studied at Vienna University of Economics and Business from 1965 to 1971, graduating with a degree in Business Administration. He received his doctorate in International Business in 1973.


Dr. Wolfgang Porsche then went into business as an independent entrepreneur, becoming the general importer of Yamaha motorbikes in Austria from 1973 to 2000. He worked at Daimler-Benz AG, Stuttgart-Untertürkheim, Germany, as manager in various areas of domestic and foreign sales from 1976 to 1981. He has served as managing director of Porsche limited liability company in Grünwald, Germany. He was Managing Partner of Porsche Holding Ges.m.b.H., Salzburg, Austria, from 1988 to 2011.


Dr. Wolfgang Porsche has served as a member of the Supervisory Board of Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG since 1978. Dr. Wolfgang Porsche has been Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Porsche Automobil Holding SE and Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG since 2007. He has also served as a member of the Supervisory Board of AUDI AG since 2012.


Dr. Wolfgang Porsche has specialist knowledge and experience of the automotive industry thanks to his past and current roles. Furthermore, he has extensive knowledge and experience in the areas of sales/marketing, management/supervision and supervisory board activities in big companies, human resources as well as particular expertise in the North America market. Dr. Wolfgang Porsche is particularly experienced in interacting and working with government and authorities, industry associations, trade unions, the press, and universities.


Status: February 22, 2024

Gerardo Scarpino, Executive Director of the Group Works Council

Gerardo Scarpino, Executive Director of the Group Works Council

Gerardo Scarpino has been a member of the Supervisory Board of Volkswagen AG since 21 April 2023.


Gerardo Scarpino was born in Italy on 13 February 1962. He lives in Wolfsburg since 1965. In 1978, he began an apprenticeship as a machine fitter at Volkswagen's main plant. After completing his apprenticeship, Scarpino attended a master craftsman's school and continued to be trained as a human resources specialist.


In the 1980s, Gerardo Scarpino helped to set up the Youth and Apprentices Representation Body at Volkswagen. From 1984 to 1987, he was its chairman. In 1987, the workforce elected him to the Works Council for the first time.


In 2005, Scarpino moved up to the Works Council’s executive management committee, as one of the so-called area coordinators. In this function, he was responsible for some 13,500 employees in Wolfsburg working in technical development and in the model series. Also since 2005, Scarpino was chairman of the education committee and thus responsible for apprenticeship and trainee issues also at the level of the General Works Council of all German Volkswagen locations.


From September 2021 to April 2023, Gerardo Scarpino was deputy chairman of the Works Council in Wolfsburg and deputy at the level of the General and Group Works Council. For co-determination purposes, he accompanied the development of the Car.Software organisation from 2019 and, with its transition to CARIAD SE, held a supervisory board mandate there from 2021 to April 2023. As Deputy Chairman of the Works Council, Scarpino also sat on the supervisory boards of Volkswagen Immobilien GmbH and Wolfsburg AG and was delegated by the employees‘ site to the Volkswagen Pension Trust.


Since April 2023 he has been Executive Director of the Group Works Council.


Due to his decades of activity in various committees of company and trade union co-determination as well as in supervisory boards, Gerardo Scarpino has in-depth knowledge and experience in the areas of education and training, collective bargaining policy as well as the automotive industry – here in particular on topics from the area of technical development. In addition, he has special knowledge of labour issues and has particular experience in working with associations, NGOs and especially trade unions.


Status: February 22, 2024

Karina Schnur, Chairwoman of the General and Group Works Councils of MAN Truck & Bus SE

Karina Schnur

Karina Schnur has been a member of the Supervisory Board of Volkswagen AG since 11 July 2023.


She was born in Ingolstadt on 4 January 1977. From 1994 to 1997 she trained as an industrial clerk at Audi AG in Ingolstadt. Until 1997 she worked in Controlling at Audi AG and then took over as Deputy Chair of the Youth and Trainee Representative Council.


After participating in the trainee programme, Karina Schnur went through various positions at the union IG Metall from 2002 to 2018 and was then responsible for the co-determination bodies of TRATON SE and MAN Truck & Bus SE as Secretary General from 2018 to 2022.


She has been Chairwoman of the SE Works Council of TRATON SE and MAN Truck & Bus SE since 2021 and was elected Chairwoman of the General and Group Works Council of MAN Truck & Bus SE and Chairwoman of the Group Works Council of TRATON SE in spring 2022. She has also been a member of the Group Works Council and Group Works Committee of Volkswagen AG since 2022. Among other things, Ms Schnur has been a member of the Supervisory Board of MAN Truck & Bus SE since May 2013 and a member of the Supervisory Board of TRATON SE since January 2019.


Karina Schnur has in-depth knowledge and experience in the areas of controlling, production, human resources as well as employee matters and collective bargaining policy due to her many years of work in the Group and in operational and trade union committees. In addition, she has in-depth knowledge and experience in the automotive industry, in particular in the commercial vehicle industry, in finance and accounting as well as in sustainability/ESG (environment, social and governance),and special experience in dealing and cooperating with politics, authorities and business associations as well as trade unions.


Status: February 22, 2024

Conny Schönhardt, Head of the Mobility and Vehicle Construction Unit at the IG Metall Executive Board

Conny Schönhardt, Head of the Mobility and Vehicle Construction Unit at the IG Metall Executive Board

Conny Schönhardt became a member of the Supervisory Board of Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft on 21 June 2019. She is also on the Supervisory Boards of Cariad SE and VW Bank GmbH.


Ms Schönhardt was born in Hannover on 24 April 1978. She completed a commercial apprenticeship for office communication at VW Commercial Vehicles from 1994 to 1997. From 2002 to 2006, she studied economics at the Universität für Wirtschaft und Politik in Hamburg (now called Universität Hamburg, department of social economics) and completed a Master of Science in International and European Politics at the University of Edinburgh in 2008.


Before her studies, Ms Schönhardt worked as an assembly worker at VW Commercial Vehicles from 1997 to 2002. Simultaneously, from 1996 to 2002, she was a representative for young employees and apprentices, for two years of which she was Deputy Chair. From 2008 to 2014, she was a trade union secretary for IG Metall Area Management for Lower Saxony and Saxony-Anhalt. From 2014 to 2018, she worked for the IG Metall Board of Management as a secretary in the unit responsible for pay scale policy.


In November 2017, MsSchönhardt completed her qualification as Labour Organiser at REFA (Association for work design, company organization and corporate development).


Since January 2019, she has been a trade union secretary for the IG Metall Board of Management and also company representative for Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft and AUDI AG.


Conny Schönhardt has specialist knowledge and experience of the automotive industry thanks to her work at Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles and her role as a company representative. Furthermore, she has extensive knowledge and experience in the areas of vehicle manufacture/sale, management/supervision, finance and accounting, law/compliance as well as employee matters. In addition, she is particularly experienced in interacting and working with government and authorities, industry associations, and trade unions.


Status: February 22, 2024

Stephan Weil, Minister-President of the Federal State of Lower Saxony

Stephan Weil, Minister-President of the Federal State of Lower Saxony

Stephan Weil has been a member of the Supervisory Board of Volkswagen AG since February 19, 2013.


Stephan Weil was born in Hamburg, Germany, on 15 December 1958. He commenced his law studies at Georg-August-Universität Göttingen, Germany, in 1978. He took his first State Exam in Law there in 1983, and sat his second State Exam in Law at the Higher Regional Court Celle, Germany, in 1983.


Stephan Weil practised as a lawyer in Hanover, Germany, from 1987 to 1989. From 1989 to 1991, he was a judge and prosecutor, in part on secondment to the Lower Saxony Ministry of Justice. He served as a judge at the Amtsgericht Hannover (Hanover Local Court), Germany, from 1991 to 1994, also on secondment to the Lower Saxony Ministry of Justice. He held the position of Ministerialrat at the Lower Saxony Ministry of Justice from 1994 to 1997.


He was City Treasurer from 1997 to 2006 and Lord Mayor of the Lower Saxony capital of Hanover, Germany, from 2006 to 2013. Stephan Weil has served as Prime Minister of Lower Saxony since February 2013.


Thanks to his continual management activities in public administration and to his years of service as a supervisory board member in different industries, Stephan Weil has extensive knowledge and experience in the areas of management/supervision, law/compliance, employee matters and sustainability/ESG – environment, social and governance. Furthermore, he has special knowledge and experience of the automotive industry and is particularly experienced in interacting and working with government and authorities, industry associations, trade unions, and the press.


Status: February 22, 2024

Committees of the Supervisory Board of Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft

The specified fuel consumption and emission data are determined in accordance with the measurement procedures prescribed by law. 1 January 2022, the WLTP test cycle completely replaced the NEDC test cycle and therefore no NEDC values are available for new type approved vehicles after that date. This information does not refer to a single vehicle and is not part of the offer but is only intended for comparison between different types of vehicles. Additional equipment and accessories (additional components, tyre formats, etc.) can alter relevant vehicle parameters such as weight, rolling resistance and aerodynamics, affecting the vehicle's fuel consumption, power consumption, CO2 emissions and driving performance values in addition to weather and traffic conditions and individual driving behavior. Due to more realistic testing conditions, fuel consumption and CO2 emissions measured according to WLTP will in many cases be higher than the values measured according to NEDC. As a result, the taxation of vehicles may change accordingly as of 1 September 2018. For further information on the differences between WLTP and NEDC, please visit www.volkswagen.de/wltp. Further information on official fuel consumption data and official specific CO2 emissions for new passenger cars can be found in the "Guide to fuel economy, CO2 emissions and power consumption for new passenger car models", which is available free of charge from all sales dealerships and from DAT Deutsche Automobil Treuhand GmbH, Hellmuth-Hirth-Str. 1, D-73760 Ostfildern, Germany and at www.dat.de/co2.