Gunnar Kilian leaves Volkswagen board citing strategic differences

Gunnar Kilian, Volkswagen's current Board Member for Human Resources, is leaving the group with immediate effect. The company announced this on Friday in Wolfsburg. The Supervisory Board decided that Kilian's duties will initially be assumed on an interim basis by VW Brand Chief Thomas Schäfer.

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The statement cited "different ideas regarding the management of investment companies" as the reason for Kilian's departure. Supervisory Board Chairman Hans Dieter Pötsch and CEO Oliver Blume thanked Kilian for his work.

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"Gunnar Kilian has played a significant role in the Group's transformation efforts in recent years," the statement said. "He has positioned the human resources department for the future and played a key role in the realignment of the commercial vehicle business."

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At VW, massive staff cuts in recent months, which the company implemented in response to problems of overcapacity and weak sales, have caused discontent. According to an agreement reached after lengthy negotiations between management and the unions, almost one in four jobs in Germany will be eliminated by 2030.

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Kilian's initially close relationship with the company's employee representatives has since been considered strained. Works council chair Daniela Cavallo told Der Spiegel that his name "will always be associated with the termination of our collective bargaining agreement last year."

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