OREANDA-NEWS. Hans-Joachim Rothenpieler, currently Board Member for Technical Development at the Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles brand, will head Group Quality Assurance effective February 15, 2016. He succeeds Frank Tuch, who is leaving the company at his own request. Rothenpieler's successor is Dr. Harald Ludanek, currently Member of the Scania Executive Board and Executive Vice President, Head of Research and Development. In his new function Rothenpieler reports to the CEO of Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft, Matthias M?ller.

Functions in the area of responsibility headed by the CEO have been reorganized as part of the Group's structural and staff realignment, and the number of top managers reporting direct to the CEO has been almost halved. As a result, Volkswagen is becoming more streamlined and speeding up its internal decision-making processes.

Hans-Joachim Rothenpieler (58) holds a degree in mechanical engineering and joined the Group in 1986. From 1994 he held various senior management positions in development at the ?KODA, Bentley and Volkswagen Passenger Cars brands. He was named head of quality assurance at Volkswagen AG in 2007 and appointed board of management spokesman and managing director for engineering at Volkswagen Sachsen GmbH in 2010. He has been Board Member for Technical Development at the Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles brand since 2014.

Dr. Harald Ludanek (57) holds a PhD in mechanical engineering and has been with the Group since 1992. He began his professional career at Volkswagen researching into special gear units and transmission technology. His functions included head of Group development coordination. Ludanek was Member of the Board of Directors for Technical Development at ?KODA from 2002 to 2007. He subsequently assumed responsibility for total vehicle development and prototype construction at the Volkswagen brand. As Executive Board Member of Scania CV, AB in S?dert?lje, he has headed research and development since 2012.

Frank Tuch (48) has successfully led Group Quality Assurance since 2010. Prior to assuming that function he held positions in quality assurance and as technical director at various companies, including the former DaimlerChrysler AG as well as Porsche. He leaves the company at his own request to take on new responsibilities elsewhere, and will continue to serve in an advisory capacity. The company regrets Tuch’s decision and thanks him for his achievements.