Jonathan Browning steps down rather suddenly from being head of Volkswagen in North America

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Right before the holidays? Hmm, what is going on here? Volkswagen announced in a press release that Jonathan Browning would be stepping down as head of Volkswagen North America. This comes shortly after Browning made comments last month regarding how surprised he was regarding Volkswagen North America diesel sales. Whether that has anything to do with it is anyone's guess but VW is taking the stance that he stepped down for personal reasons.

Chances are that Volkswagen continuing to struggle in the US market has something to do with it. VW has all the money in the world so they can afford to take a loss in the USA but the fact that VW makes loads of money everywhere else except for in the world's largest auto market is likely a bit of a problem.

VW executive Michael Horn will take over for Browning. VWBoost hopes he will cater to the enthusiast market and not be hesitant to push exciting models in the USA. If he wants to up sales, not holding back the good stuff is likely a good idea.

Wolfsburg, 12 December 2013
Personnel changes in sales and after sales

The Volkswagen Group occupies both after sales and marketing in areas 1 January 2014 several new self-service capabilities.

Michael Horn (51) is President and CEO of Volkswagen Group of America. Horn is in business administration and in 1990 joined to Volkswagen, worked on the strategy of the Group and brand, took over in 1997 the distribution of North-West Europe and in 2001 the sales and marketing for full-size cars of the Volkswagen brand. In 2004, he joined the management of Sales Europe. In 2009 he became head of Volkswagen After Sales worldwide. Horn follows in his new role, Jonathan Browning (54), who is leaving for personal reasons from the group and returned to Britain.

Axel Schulte-Huermann (52) is the new Head of Aftersales at Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand, succeeding Michael Horn function. The engineering graduate joined the Volkswagen Group in 1987 in a. After various responsible positions in logistics, he was appointed Head of Sales appointed 2001 Original parts of the ŠKODA brand. In 2004 he took on the task of the manager at Volkswagen Original parts logistics. Since 2012 he is Head of Supply Chain at Genuine Parts and Service the Volkswagen Group.

Terence Johnsson (52), who now heads at Audi sales overseas. His professional career began in 1984, the economist at General Motors. After various responsible positions at GM Asia Pacific Johnsson was appointed President and Managing Director of GM Middle East Operations 2004. Since 2008, he was vice president of sales, service and marketing at GM in China. 2011 Johnsson joined the Volkswagen Group a. He first took over the management of the sales of the Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand in North and South America, and from August 2013 for North America.

Ludger Fretzen (48) becomes the new head of sales at Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand for North America and follows in this function Terence Johnsson. Fretzen's degree in business administration in 1991 and came to the Volkswagen Group. He was sales manager of Volkswagen cars in Scandinavia in 1993 and in 1996 took over a task in the sales management of the Group. 1998, the responsibility for product strategy, he was assigned in marketing. As of 2000 Fretzen was responsible for worldwide product marketing of Volkswagen cars. In 2010 he was appointed Managing Director of Volkswagen Audi España SA.

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Hopefully this means Golf 7 R with both manual and DSG, and other goodies like the GTD over here.

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Hopefully this means Golf 7 R with both manual and DSG, and other goodies like the GTD over here.

That would be nice.