Simon Thomas to lead Marketing at Volkswagen Group and Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand effective September 1, 2013

Simon Thomas (53) is to lead Marketing at the Volkswagen Group and the Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand effective September 1, 2013. He succeeds Jürgen Stackmann (51), who was appointed Chairman of SEAT S.A. effective May 1, 2013. In his new function Thomas reports to Christian Klingler, Board Member for Sales and Marketing for the Volkswagen Group and the Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand.

Following a four year apprenticeship and qualification in 1980 as an automotive technician, Simon Thomas moved to the Austin Rover Group in 1985 as a technical advisor, after which he then worked in service, sales and fleet field-based roles. In 1991, Thomas moved to Nissan GB, where he became Marketing Director and then Sales Director. After that, he took responsibility for sales and marketing in Canada for Nissan and Infiniti. In 2007, Thomas returned to Europe as Vice President of Sales for Nissan Europe based in France. In 2008, Thomas became Nissan Europe’s Senior Vice President based in Switzerland. He joined the Volkswagen Group in 2011 as Managing Director of Volkswagen Group UK.

Jürgen Stackmann qualified as a bank clerk and holds a degree in business administration. He joined the Volkswagen Group in 2010, assuming responsibility for Sales and Marketing at ŠKODA Auto a.s. He was appointed Chairman of SEAT S.A. effective May 1, 2013. Stackmann began his professional career with Ford in 1989, where he held various responsibilities in Sales and Marketing, latterly as General Manager Sales and Marketing for German plants.