VW wants Bernhard to stay

German news media speculated last week that Wolfgang Bernhard, shown, would leave Volkswagen following the departure this month of former CEO Bernd Pischetsrieder, who lost his job in a power struggle.

Carmaker seeks new post for VW brand boss

Henning Krogh | Guide Reinking | Automobilwoche / November 20, 2006 - 1:00 amWOLFSBURG, Germany -- The buzz last week was that Wolfgang Bernhard was as good as gone from Volkswagen after the ouster of his boss, VW CEO Bernd Pischetsrieder.

Not so fast. VW executives are looking for a way to persuade the former Chrysler boy wonder to stay.

On Friday, Nov. 17, VW group's supervisory board named Audi CEO Martin Winterkorn as group CEO starting Jan. 1. He replaces Pischetsrieder, who lost a power struggle this month with supervisory board Chairman Ferdinand Piech.

Bernhard, who heads the VW brand group -- which includes VW, Skoda, Bentley and Bugatti -- did not quit Friday as expected by German news media.

"We would be happy if Bernhard stays on under the new leadership," a supervisory board member told Automobilwoche, which, like Automotive News, is published by Crain Communications Inc.

Bernhard, former COO of the Chrysler group, left DaimlerChrysler in 2004 when his promotion to the top job at Mercedes-Benz was withdrawn. He joined VW that year.

Pischetsrieder's sudden departure was expected to lead to Bernhard's resignation. Winterkorn reportedly wants to head the VW brand unit in addition to being group CEO. But VW is trying to find a top management post that Bernhard will accept.

After Friday's board meeting, Bernhard and Winterkorn flew together to the Beijing auto show to present new VW and Audi models.

The relationship between the two men is said to be cool. Bernhard had been considered a candidate for the job of VW group CEO. The financial markets believe Bernhard's presence will help assure that VW will continue with its restructuring program.