Volkswagen scraps global head of marketing role
Volkswagen’s global marketing chief Simon Thomas is leaving the car marque after a year in the role, with his responsiblities for passenger cars and marketing across the Volkswagen group to be split up.
By Sarah Vizard
Thomas was promoted to the post in July last year from his role as managing director of Volkswagen’s UK operations. He joined Volkswagen in 2011 from Nissan, where he was head of European sales and marketing.
He will leave Volkswagen at the start of September. The reason for his departure is not known.
Xavier Chardon will now run global marketing for Volkswagen’s passenger cars business, reporting into board member for sales and marketing Christian Klinger. Klinger will take over Thomas’ other role as marketing chief for the entire Volkswagen Group, which includes its commercial vehicles business, on an interim basis while the car marque searches for a replacement.
Chardon joined Volkswagen in 2011 as head of European sales. He came from Citroen, where he held a number of sales and marketing posts including head of marketing and PR in France and general manager in France.
Volkswagen sales increased 4 per cent in the first half of the year to 3.07 million. Growth was boosted by strong sales in China although demand in Europe remains weak.
