The Volkswagen and Audi brands are to have new Board Members responsible for development. Dr. Ulrich Hackenberg, previously Member of the Board of Management of the Volkswagen brand responsible for development, has been appointed Board Member for technical development at AUDI AG. At the same time, he is to assume responsibility for the development coordination of the Volkswagen Group. Dr. Heinz-Jakob Neußer, previously Head of Powertrain Development of the Volkswagen Group, succeeds Hackenberg as Board Member for development of the Volkswagen brand, retaining his function as Head of Group Powertrain Development. Wolfgang Dürheimer, previously Board Member for technical development at Audi, is to transfer to another function within the Group; he will remain General Representative of the Volkswagen Group responsible for motorsport. The changes are to take effect as of July 1, 2013.
Dr. Ulrich Hackenberg (63) has been Member of the Board of Management of the Volkswagen brand responsible for development since February 2007. He obtained a doctorate in automotive engineering from Aachen Technical University (RWTH) in 1985 and then joined AUDI AG. At Audi, he became Head of Concept Definition in 1989 and later Head of Technical Project Management for the entire product range. In 1998, Hackenberg joined Volkswagen AG , where he was responsible for body development and passenger car concept development. He also restructured technical development at Rolls Royce Bentley Motor Cars Ltd. as Member of the Board and was responsible for developing the concept of the Bentley model range. In 2002, he returned to AUDI AG, where he was responsible for concept, bodywork and electrical/electronic development; the systems he developed in this position included the “modular longitudinal system”.
Dr. Heinz-Jakob Neußer (53) is a mechanical engineer and holds a doctorate from Aachen Technical University (RWTH). He started his career as a senior engineer with FEV Motorentechnik. In 1996, he joined Porsche AG as project manager for engine development. From 1998, he was Head of Engine Design with Porsche and became Head of Drivetrain Development in 2001. He was appointed Head of Powertrain Development of the Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand in 2011 and Head of Powertrain Development of the Volkswagen Group in 2012.
Wolfgang Dürheimer (55) started his career in 1986 with BMW, where he held various management positions until 1998. Finally, he was Member of the Board of Management responsible for research, development and project management.
In 1999, he joined Porsche AG, where he became Board Member for research and development in 2001. In 2011, he was appointed CEO of Bentley Motors and Bugatti and assumed responsibility for Group motorsports. From September 2012, he was Member of the Board of Management of AUDI AG responsible for technical development and General Representative of the Volkswagen Group for motorsport.