Volkswagen also added that its chief finance officer, Christian Schulz, had left the company alongside Gruendler. Schulz has been replaced by Annette Danielski, the firm’s head of group finance.
The change in the leadership means that Scania, MAN TRUCKS and Traton can maximise synergies, the announcement reads.
With the completion of Navistar and the MAN restructuring well underway, we now have a real chance to leverage the synergies within our truck business. We are getting rid of the complex structure and will replace it with a lean management comprising the three truck brands.
— Herbert Diess (@Herbert_Diess) September 30, 2021
Commenting on the news, Volkswagen Chief Executive Herbert Diess added:
„Electrifying our truck business, preparing it for an autonomous driving future and expanding our global footprint will require new joint approaches to generate scale”.
New Traton CEO Christian Levin emphasised that the evolution of the group continues and builds on the Traton strategy.
„The strategy includes a stronger focus on sustainability not the least through e-mobility, digitalization and connectivity; continued integration of Navistar and growth in the North American market, as well as continued investments in China over the next few years. This change will comprise of several steps over time and by the end of the year a fuller plan will be presented” – said Levin.