Volkswagen Names New North America Chief

Volkswagen has appointed senior sales executive Marco Schubert to lead its North American operations, replacing Kjell Gruner in a regional leadership shake-up.

The automaker announced on Sept. 2 that Schubert will become a member of Volkswagen Group’s Extended Executive Committee for the North American region effective Oct. 1.

Gruner, who became president and CEO of Volkswagen Group of America and CEO of the North American region in December 2024, is leaving the company “to pursue new professional challenges,” Volkswagen said.

The company did not disclose where he is headed.

Volkswagen said Schubert’s appointment reflects its focus on strengthening its position in North America, which Volkswagen Group CEO Oliver Blume described as the group’s “most important growth market.”

Blume said Schubert had successfully coordinated sales across the group’s brands and would help drive the company’s transformation in North America.

“Leveraging his expertise and profound understanding of customers and markets, he will play a pivotal role in driving the strategic and organizational transformation of our company across North America,” he said.

The carmaker is making the leadership change after a prolonged decline in U.S. sales.

Volkswagen Group deliveries in the United States fell 13.6 percent in 2025, according to the company’s annual deliveries report published in January.

U.S. deliveries dropped another 7.4 percent in the first half of 2026, the company said in July.

The Volkswagen passenger-car brand alone reported a 13 percent decline in U.S. sales in 2025.

Veteran Sales Executive

Schubert has spent more than 25 years with Volkswagen Group in a series of senior sales and management roles.

He currently serves as Audi’s board member for sales and marketing while also overseeing sales, marketing, and after-sales operations across Volkswagen Group.

During his career, he has held leadership positions at Audi, Skoda, and Porsche, including senior roles in Sweden, China, and across Europe.

Volkswagen said he helped strengthen cooperation between brands and dealers while improving fleet and after-sales operations.

Schubert’s appointment is part of a broader management reshuffle across the Volkswagen Group.

Martin Sander will replace Schubert as Audi’s board member for sales and marketing and join the group’s Extended Executive Committee.

Martin Jahn will become the Volkswagen brand board member responsible for sales, marketing, and after sales, succeeding Sander.

Martina Biene will move from Volkswagen Group Africa to lead sales and marketing at Skoda, while Christiane Zorn will succeed Biene as chair and managing director of Volkswagen Group Africa.

All appointments take effect on Oct. 1.

Blume said Sander had helped drive sales growth at the Volkswagen brand and would now help strengthen Audi.