Volkswagen
Europe’s largest car manufacturer does not announce someone for an extremely central position in the company. There is internal tension.
A Volkswagen, largest car manufacturer in Europe, continues unable to find a human resources director.
The company is unable to fill one of the most sensitive positions in its management structure – i.e. almost a year after Gunnar Kilian’s departureformer head of human resources.
It is a consequence of internal tensions that affect a German group that is in a phase of profound restructuring and cost reduction.
Kilian left office in July 2025; there was disagreements strategies and loss of support, both among worker representatives and among administration sectors.
Since then, the functions have been carried out on an interim basis by Thomas Schäfer, responsible for the Volkswagen brand; operational management of the department is ensured by Arne Meiswinkel.
The German company ensures that the search for a successor continues; but sources close to the process indicate what the negotiations blocked.
Who is concerned
At the center of the impasse is a confrontation between two influential groups within Volkswagen’s power structure.
On one side are representatives of the workersled by the president of the workers committee, Daniela Cavallo
On the other side are representatives of shareholders linked to the Porsche and Piëch families, who control the group.
And the position of labor and Human Resources director plays a decisive role in the relationship between administration, unions and workers.
It is a role with considerable political weight in the management of Volkswagen, which, like other German companies, attributes significant influence to worker representatives.
Delicate moment
The absence of a permanent human resources director comes at an especially delicate time for the car manufacturer.
Volkswagen is implementing a vast transformation program aimed at regaining competitiveness, reducing costs and adapting to changes in the global market.
The plan includes the elimination of tens of thousands of jobs in Germany by the end of the decade, although the company has excluded dismissals for economic reasons, favoring early retirements and voluntary departures.
There is a lack of director and a new one signal the difficulties internal issues faced by the group: there are doubts about Volkswagen’s ability to cohesively manage one of the biggest restructurings in its recent history.
