OREANDA-NEWS. Dr. Manfred Doss is to be the new Head of Legal Affairs of the Volkswagen Group. In this function, he succeeds Michael Ganninger, who is leaving the company at his own wish by amicable agreement. The new appointment will take effect from January 1, 2016. D?ss is Head of the Legal Department and, from 2016, is to be Executive Board member responsible for legal affairs and compliance, of Porsche Automobil Holding SE. He will hold the two functions simultaneously.

The Chairman of the Board of Management of Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft, Matthias M?ller, said: "In the 20 years that Michael Ganninger has worked for Volkswagen, including 14 years as Head of Legal Affairs, Volkswagen could always build on his legal expertise and his outstanding dedication. Special thanks are due to him for his considerable commitment over the past few months during which the diesel issue was the prevailing topic and we were able to rely on his specialist competence."

Dr. Manfred D?ss (57) holds a doctorate in law. He held positions as Head of the Legal Department of MG Technologies from 1996 to 2004 and RWE AG from 2005 to 2013. In 2013, D?ss joined Porsche Automobil Holding SE, also as Head of the Legal Department; at the same time, he became General Representative. In December, he was appointed Executive Board member responsible for legal affairs and compliance of Porsche Automobil Holding SE, effective January 1, 2016.

Following the second state examination in law, Michael Ganninger (54) was initially a public prosecutor in Brunswick from 1991, followed by an appointment as a judge of Brunswick Regional Court, before joining Volkswagen in 1995. He became Head of Legal Affairs in 2002.