Volkswagen Group Ireland has appointed its first Irish full-time chief executive since it took over direct control of operations here in 2008.
Alan Bateson, currently head of the Volkswagen brand in Ireland is to take up the group role from August, succeeding Pierre Boutin who is expected to return to a role at the car giant’s head office in Germany.
Bateson will be responsible for the VW Group’s portfolio of brands on the Irish market, including Volkswagen, Seat, Cupra, Audi, and Skoda along with the commercial vehicle divisions.
The group has 28.4 per cent of the new passenger car market in Ireland and over 16 per cent of the van market.
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The 50-year-old Dublin man previously held roles in aftersales, the VW commercials division and the passenger car division.
His appointment comes as the VW Group are undergoing global upheaval. The car giant’s global chief executive Oliver Blume told staff on Monday that it is looking to reduce up to 100,000 positions.
Blume is battling to streamline Europe’s biggest carmaker, whose profits have slumped as it faces billions of euros in tariff costs, stiff competition in China and pressure on its German manufacturing network to become more efficient.
The job cuts plan follows an announcement last week of plans to gradually halve the group’s sprawling line-up of models.
