Ex-BMW Man Markus Duesman Heads To Volkswagen AG For Top Audi Job

Ex-BMW head of 'purchasing and suppliers', Markus Duesmann has formally joined Volkswagen AG, after choosing not to renew his contract with former employer BMW AG.

Duesman is the second high-profile exit from BMW, after Herbert Diess in July 2015, who is now the chief executive of Volkswagen Group.

Volkswagen AG issued a statement earlier today stating, “The Supervisory Board of Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft (AG) decided to offer Mr. Markus Duesmann a position on the Group Board of Management. Mr. Duesmann, currently Board of Management Member for Purchasing and Supplier Network at BMW AG, will take up his new position as soon as he is able to do so. An agreement to this effect has already been signed. With Duesmann, Volkswagen AG is welcoming on board one of the automotive industry’s most experienced and distinguished experts,”

From left: Matthias Müller (Chairman, Supervisory Board of AUDI AG) and Prof. Rupert Stadler

Reuters reports that Duesman has been tipped to assume the CEO position at Audi, but cannot do so until current CEO, Prof. Rupert Stadler formally steps down. Stadler was arrested in June, on the grounds that he could influence the outcome of an extensive fraud investigation into Audi’s emission cheating scandal.

Stadler was previously granted a 5-year contract extension, till the end of 2022 by the Supervisory Board of Audi AG.