VW parts ways with HR Director Gunnar Kilian

Volkswagen is parting ways with HR chief Gunnar Kilian. VW brand chief Thomas Schäfer will temporarily assume his duties, Europe's largest automaker announced in Wolfsburg. "The Group's Supervisory Board made this decision on Friday. The reason for this is a difference of opinion regarding the management of investment companies."

Employees claimed that the 50-year-old lacked the support to extend his contract. This decision was due in a few months.

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Kilian joined VW in 2000. Seven years ago, he joined the Group's Board of Management as one of the youngest DAX-listed managers at the time. Prior to that, he had served on the Group Works Council.

Recently, a major workforce reduction at VW caused a stir. After a long struggle, the company and the union agreed in December on a restructuring program for the core VW brand.

By 2030, almost a quarter of the 130,000 jobs in Germany are expected to be eliminated. Redundancies have been ruled out; the reductions will primarily be achieved through early retirement and severance payments. The company has further expanded its partial retirement program and is also offering severance payments for younger employees who leave voluntarily.

Chairman of the Supervisory Board Hans Dieter Pötsch and CEO Oliver Blume thanked Kilian for his work. "Gunnar Kilian has played a significant role in the Group's transformation efforts over the past few years."

RND/jst/dpa