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Onward and Upward for Ex-Kariega MD, Thomas Schäfer

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South Africa and the Eastern Cape have a strong record of breeding great businessmen and sportsmen and one in question at the moment is ex-Mercedes Benz and Volkswagen South Africa, Thomas Schäfer who has been named as the new Chief Operating Officer at Volkswagen brand.

Thomas Schäfer now joins the Volkswagen Group Board of Management.

A checkered career for this truly well grounded, highly intelligent man, Schäfer left VWSA to take up a position as Chairman of the ŠKODA Auto brand – a position he will hold in addition to his function as COO at Volkswagen. His successor as Chairman of the Board of Management of ŠKODA AUTO effective July 1, 2022 is Klaus Zellmer, currently member of the Volkswagen Passenger Cars Board of Management responsible for Sales, Marketing and After Sales. A decision on his successor will be announced at a later date.

Thomas Schäfer was been named Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the Volkswagen brand effective 1 April 2022. Schäfer will subsequently take over as Chairman of the Volkswagen brand with effect from 1 July 2022, and will also join the Group Board of Management as the member responsible for the ‘Volume’ Brand Group. Ralf Brandstätter will continue to serve as Volkswagen CEO until June 30, 2022, subsequently taking responsibility for the Group Board of Management’s China Division effective August 1, 2022. Brandstätter and Schäfer will prepare for the seamless handover of CEO responsibilities during the transition period from April to July.

Thomas Schäfer has extensive experience in the international automotive industry. The qualified mechanical engineer began his career at Daimler AG in Stuttgart in 1994, where he held various senior management positions.

Schäfer joined the Volkswagen Group in 2012, initially heading the Group’s International Production unit, where he held responsibility for CKD projects and negotiations on new production sites. Schäfer became Chairman and Managing Director of Volkswagen Group South Africa in 2015, and was responsible for Volkswagen’s business in South Africa and the development of the Group brands in the sub-Saharan Africa region. Schäfer was appointed Chairman of the Board of Management of ŠKODA AUTO a. s. in August 2020.

In my many engagements with Thomas I found him to be erudite and refreshingly honest about his company and performance – traits sorely lacking on other leaders who more often than not concentrate more on what they need to hide from media than what they are genuinely proud or happy of.

All the best from Gqeberha, Thomas.

Thomas Schäfer
Thomas Schäfer

Thomas Schäfer CV:

Thomas Schäfer was born in Marburg, Germany, in 1970.

He entered the automotive industry through a dual study programme at Daimler AG and graduated with a degree in mechanical engineering in 1994. He held various management positions in the areas of production and quality assurance in Germany, the USA and South Africa at Daimler until 2002. From 2002 to 2005, he was a founding member of DaimlerChrysler Malaysia as Board member for Technology.

At the Stuttgart headquarters, Schäfer was responsible for vehicle deliveries, customer centres and the global CKD business in emerging markets between 2005 and 2012.

In May 2012, Schäfer moved to Volkswagen AG, where he headed the Group’s International Production and was responsible for CKD projects and negotiations on new production sites.

From 2015, he held the position of Chairman and Managing Director of Volkswagen Group South Africa and was responsible for the development of the Group brands in the sub-Saharan Africa region.

Schäfer has been CEO of ŠKODA AUTO since August 2020. He launched the new corporate strategy NEXT LEVEL – ŠKODA STRATEGY 2030, drove forward the electrification of the model portfolio and laid the foundation for becoming the leading European brand in India, Russia and North Africa.

Thomas Schäfer has been Chief Operating Officer of the Volkswagen brand since 1 April 2022. On 1 July 2022 he will assume overall responsibility for the brand as CEO and Member of the Volkswagen AG Board of Management, at the same time heading up the Volume Brand Group.

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Alan Straton

Chief Cook, Bottle Washer and Broom Mechanic at MyPE
Passionate about Port Elizabeth and definitely NOT packing for Perth. Alan's ethos is epitomised in the words of Nelson Mandela; "I have fought against white domination and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the idea of a democratic and free society. If need be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die." See more articles by Alan.