Skip to main content
Sister Publication Links
  • Automotive News
  • Automobilwoche
  • Automotive News Canada
  • Automotive News China
Subscribe
  • Subscribe
  • Newsletters
  • Login
  • HOME
    • Latest news
    • Automakers
    • Suppliers
    • New Product
    • Environment/Emissions
    • Sales By Market
    • On The Move
    • Auto Shows
    • Munich Auto Show
    • Geneva Auto Show
    • Paris Auto Show
    • Beijing Auto Show
    • Shanghai Auto Show
  • Features
    • Long Read
    • Interview of the Month
    • Focus on Electrification
    • Focus on Technology
    • Segment Analysis
    • Cars & Concepts
    • Supplier Spotlight
    • Europe By The Numbers
  • Opinion
    • Blogs
    • Commentary
    • Guest columnists
  • Photos
    • Photo Galleries
    • Geneva Photo Gallery
    • Beijing Photo Gallery
    • Frankfurt Photo Gallery
    • Paris Photo Gallery
    • Shanghai Photo Gallery
  • Podcasts
  • Car Cutaways
  • EVENTS
    • ANE Congress
    • ANE Rising Stars
    • ANE Eurostars
  • More
    • Publishing Partners
    • Social Media
    • Contact Us
    • Media Kit
    • About Us
    • Capgemini: Invent Head on automotive takeaways from CES 2023
    • Capgemini: Securing the industry's future through a radical rethink
    • Capgemini: Succeeding with the automated driving journey through AI
    • Capgemini: The circular economy is spurring new thinking on EV batteries
    • Capgemini: Toyota and Capgemini leaders on how OEMs can handle industry changes and succeed
    • HEXAGON: Plugging into data is the only way to make winning EVs
    • TUV Rheinland: Ideas, services and certifications for smart mobility
    • TUV Rheinland: Testing of automated and autonomous vehicles on test tracks
    • Toyota Europe
    • UFI Filters
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • LinkedIn
    • Twitter
MENU
Breadcrumb
  1. Home
  2. On the Move
January 08, 2019 09:47 AM

Audi recruits BMW's former brand boss to be new sales chief

Staff report
  • Tweet
  • Share
  • Share
  • Email
  • More
    Print
    BMW

    Wortmann joins Audi at a time when the brand is trailing rivals Mercedes and BMW in global sales.

    FRANKFURT -- Audi said former BMW executive, Hildegard Wortmann, will take charge of its sales and marketing effective July 1. Wortmann will succeed Bram Schot, who was promoted to Audi CEO on Jan. 1.

    Audi said Wortmann's more than 20 years of international experience in the sales and marketing of premium cars makes her "the ideal executive to refocus and shape the brand innovatively."

    Wortmann joins Audi at a time when the brand is falling behind rivals Mercedes-Benz and BMW in the race to be the global luxury-car leader. As an outsider, she is also untainted by Volkswagen Group's diesel-cheating scandal that started at Audi and led to the loss of key executives.

    At BMW, Wortmann, 52, was a contender to replace BMW's long-serving sales chief, Ian Robertson, when he retired in 2017, sources told Automotive News Europe. BMW instead hired outsider Pieter Nota from Dutch electronics and lighting company Philips. Wortmann was reassigned to be head of BMW's Asia Pacific region excluding China.

    BMW last month appointed former Daimler executive Jens Thiemer to Wortmann's former role as head of brand management. Thiemer succeeded Sven Schuwirth, who left BMW in May. German media reports said Schuwirth is returning to Audi, his former employer.

    Wortmann was named one of Automotive News Europe's Leading Women in 2016.

    Audi once targeted becoming the top-selling global premium brand but now trails rivals Mercedes-Benz and BMW. Audi's global vehicle sales fell by 2.4 percent to 1.65 million in the first 11 months of 2018. Mercedes was the best-selling luxury brand though November with vehicle sales of 2.1 million, a year-on-year rise of 0.4 percent. BMW brand increased its sales by 1.8 percent to 1.92 million.

    In July, Audi parent VW Group said it had hired former BMW purchasing director Markus Duesmann for an unspecified management board role. Press reports said Duesmann had been lined up to head Audi, but BMW refused to release him from a non-compete clause that expires in 2020. Instead VW Group made permanent Schot's role as interim Audi chief. Schot had been leading Audi since former CEO Rupert Stadler was arrested in June by German prosecutors investigating Audi's emissions cheating.

     

    RECOMMENDED FOR YOU
    Toyota taps Lexus head Koji Sato as new CEO; Akio Toyoda becomes chairman
    Recommended for You
    Toyota Koji Sato
    Toyota taps Lexus head Koji Sato as new CEO; Akio Toyoda becomes chairman
    Renault Fabrice Cambolive 2023
    Renault veteran Cambolive will lead brand's move to larger cars
    Jozef Kaban, Andreas Mindt
    Bentley design chief Mindt to head VW brand styling
    Capgemini Invent Head on automotive takeaways from CES 2023
    Sponsored Content: Capgemini Invent Head on automotive takeaways from CES 2023
    Sign up for free newsletters
    EMAIL ADDRESS

    Please enter a valid email address.

    Please enter your email address.

    Please verify captcha.

    Please select at least one newsletter to subscribe.

    You can unsubscribe at any time through links in these emails. For more information, see our Privacy Policy.

    Get Free Newsletters

    Sign up and get the best of Automotive News Europe delivered straight to your email inbox, free of charge. Choose your news – we will deliver.

    You can unsubscribe at any time through links in these emails. For more information, see our Privacy Policy.

    SUBSCRIBE TODAY

    Get 24/7 access to in-depth, authoritative coverage of the auto industry from a global team of reporters and editors covering the news that’s vital to your business.

    SUBSCRIBE NOW
    Connect with Us
    • Twitter
    • Facebook
    • LinkedIn
    • Instagram

    Founded in 1996, Automotive News Europe is the preferred information source for decision-makers and opinion leaders operating in Europe.

    Contact Us

    1155 Gratiot Avenue
    Detroit MI  48207-2997
    Tel: +1 877-812-1584

    Email Us

    ISSN 2643-6590 (print)
    ISSN 2643-6604 (online)

     

    Resources
    • About us
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise with us
    • Advertise with Us
    • Ad Choices Ad Choices
    • Sitemap
    Awards
    • Rising Stars
    • Eurostars
    • Leading Women
    Legal
    • Terms and Conditions
    • Privacy Policy
    • Privacy Request
    Automotive News Europe
    Copyright © 1996-2023. Crain Communications, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
    • HOME
      • Latest news
      • Automakers
      • Suppliers
      • New Product
      • Environment/Emissions
      • Sales By Market
      • On The Move
      • Auto Shows
        • Munich Auto Show
        • Geneva Auto Show
        • Paris Auto Show
        • Beijing Auto Show
        • Shanghai Auto Show
    • Features
      • Long Read
      • Interview of the Month
      • Focus on Electrification
      • Focus on Technology
      • Segment Analysis
      • Cars & Concepts
      • Supplier Spotlight
      • Europe By The Numbers
    • Opinion
      • Blogs
      • Commentary
      • Guest columnists
    • Photos
      • Photo Galleries
      • Geneva Photo Gallery
      • Beijing Photo Gallery
      • Frankfurt Photo Gallery
      • Paris Photo Gallery
      • Shanghai Photo Gallery
    • Podcasts
    • Car Cutaways
    • EVENTS
      • ANE Congress
      • ANE Rising Stars
      • ANE Eurostars
    • More
      • Publishing Partners
        • Capgemini: Invent Head on automotive takeaways from CES 2023
        • Capgemini: Securing the industry's future through a radical rethink
        • Capgemini: Succeeding with the automated driving journey through AI
        • Capgemini: The circular economy is spurring new thinking on EV batteries
        • Capgemini: Toyota and Capgemini leaders on how OEMs can handle industry changes and succeed
        • HEXAGON: Plugging into data is the only way to make winning EVs
        • TUV Rheinland: Ideas, services and certifications for smart mobility
        • TUV Rheinland: Testing of automated and autonomous vehicles on test tracks
        • Toyota Europe
        • UFI Filters
      • Social Media
        • Facebook
        • Instagram
        • LinkedIn
        • Twitter
      • Contact Us
      • Media Kit
      • About Us