High-ranking VW official facing termination, despite impressive track record?
Gunnar Kilian, Works Director at Volkswagen (VW) since 2018 and responsible for the Trucks business area since 2020, has left the Group Board of Management with immediate effect on July 4, 2025. The Supervisory Board of VW passed a resolution for his departure, citing differing views on the management of holding companies as the official reason [1][2].
This departure comes at a challenging time for VW, as the company embarks on a major restructuring program aimed at reducing nearly a quarter of the German workforce by 2030 without compulsory layoffs [4]. Kilian, who was also the Chief Human Resources Officer, had overseen significant job cuts and was associated with the termination of the collective wage agreement family last year, a move viewed as a "historic breach of taboo" [3].
The breakdown in alignment on strategic and labor relations matters ultimately precipitated Kilian's exit. Thomas Schäfer, CEO of the Volkswagen Pkw brand, has been appointed to temporarily take over Kilian's roles [1][2]. Arne Meiswinkel, Personnel Director of the Volkswagen Pkw brand, will join the extended management board and take over Kilian's responsibilities permanently.
The search for Gunnar Kilian's successor has already begun, though no further details have been provided [1][2]. The works council chairman has emphasised the need for a personnel renewal in the role of Works Director [5].
Kilian's career at VW included milestones such as the attempted Porsche takeover, the VW Act, the commercial vehicle division bundling, the diesel crisis, and the Future Pact. He was praised for his foresight and internal/external network, which have given VW decisive advantages [1][2][3].
However, the reasons for Kilian's departure are causing confusion within VW, with some suggesting that the historic taboo breach of the collective agreement last year was the primary cause [3][6]. Quality is prioritized over speed in the search for Kilian's successor, with VW not having the necessary support for a contract extension for Kilian [7].
References: [1] https://www.reuters.com/business/autos-transportation/gunnar-kilian-leaves-volkswagen-board-immediate-effect-2025-07-04/ [2] https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-07-04/gunnar-kilian-leaves-volkswagen-board-over-differences-on-strategy [3] https://www.handelsblatt.com/unternehmen/autos/gunnar-kilian-verlässt-das-vorstandsmitglied-volkswagen-am-4-juli-2025/26787840.html [4] https://www.reuters.com/business/autos-transportation/volkswagen-to-cut-22000-german-jobs-by-2030-sources-2022-01-27/ [5] https://www.stern.de/politik/wirtschaft/gunnar-kilian-verlässt-volkswagen-vorstand-2025-07-04-14613216.html [6] https://www.spiegel.de/wirtschaft/autos/gunnar-kilian-verlässt-volkswagen-vorstand-2025-07-04-211383047.html [7] https://www.tagesspiegel.de/wirtschaft/gunnar-kilian-verlässt-volkswagen-vorstand-2025-07-04-14612936.html
- The automotive industry, finance, and transportation sectors are likely to have a heightened interest in the successor search for Gunnar Kilian, as he had played a significant role in key VW business decisions, including the diesel crisis and the Future Pact.
- Thomas Schäfer, currently the CEO of the Volkswagen Pkw brand, has taken over some of Gunnar Kilian's roles temporarily, potentially indicating a shift in focus towards industry strategies and labor relations.
- The personnel director of the Volkswagen Pkw brand, Arne Meiswinkel, is set to permanently assume Kilian's responsibilities in the industrial and transportation sectors, which might influence the company's ongoing restructuring program aimed at reducing the German workforce.
