Volkswagen Group Australia Managing Director Paul Sansom steps down after less than a year

UPDATE: VW boss Paul Sansom steps down after short stint in top job

Volkswagen Group Australia boss Paul Sansom has departed his role after less than a year, it has been revealed today.

According to Drive, the news was told to Group employees on Thursday after Sansom took a "period of leave"

A statement issued to Wheels by VW Australia said Sansom was taking "a well-earned break before beginning the next exciting chapter of his career".

"Volkswagen Group Australia (VGA) Managing Director Paul Sansom has resigned after two decades with the VW Group here and abroad," it said.

"Mr Sansom became Managing Director of VGA on January 1, tasked with leading the newly unified national sales company of VGA (VW, Skoda and Cupra) and what was Audi Australia.

"He had led Audi in this country since 2017 having previously been managing director of Audi in South Africa. He joined the Volkswagen Group in his native UK in 2003."

The company said Financial Director Gabriele de Neidels will replace Sansom as managing director, but did not say whether it was on a temporary or permanent basis.

Read our interview with Paul Sansom earlier this year on the link below.

The story to here

November 2021: Volkswagen Group Australia will appoint a new Managing Director at the start of 2022, with Paul Sansom set to take the head role of local operations.

Currently serving as MD of Audi Australia, as well as Chairman of the Audi Foundation, Sansom's promotion to the role will also see VGA merge with Audi Australia – bringing Volkswagen, Audi, Skoda and Cupra under the same roof as is already the case in other markets.

Having led Audi Australia since 2017, Sansom will be taking the helm from Michael Bartsch who will return to Volkswagen of America after assuming the VW MD position in 2015.

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Paul Sansom

Set to take over on January 1, 2022, Sansom's first year as MD will include the official arrival of Cupra in Australia – something which he believes will make it the biggest year yet for VGA.

“Next year may prove to be the most important year in the history of Volkswagen Group Australia, and it is testament to Michael’s leadership that the company should be so well-positioned to play a leading role in shaping the future of mobility in this country,” said Sansom.

“The now five brands of Volkswagen Group Australia all have their own unique identity, and cater for their own distinct customer groups. The diversity of their expertise across the majority of market segments provides Volkswagen Group Australia with an unrivalled opportunity to appeal to more new and existing customers than any other competitor.”

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Departing Managing Director, Michael Bartsch

During his time in Australia, Bartsch was a staunch opposer to the Federal Government's lack of an electric vehicle policy, and previously labelled the Victorian road user tax as a disincentive – saying Australians are living in “an automotive third world” with the country “becoming a dumping ground for older and less efficient vehicles”.

Bartsch also led the group through the local fallout of Dieselgate.

“It has been a privilege to lead such an extraordinary team over the past six years,” said Bartsch.

“We have experienced our share of challenges and headwinds during that time, but we have never lost sight of the trust that our customers place in our brands.

“Our collective growth over that period is a mark of the significant progress our brands have made in Australia, and I am pleased to leave the next leg of their successful journey in Paul’s very capable hands.”

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Ahead of the 2022 merger, VGA is set to go through a sizeable shake-up, not only at the very top, but also across its local brands – as Michael Szaniecki joins as Volkswagen Passenger Vehicles Director after holding the title of Poland's Director of Seat and Cupra.

Ryan Davies will remain as the Director of Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, Michael Irmer retains his role at the top of Skoda Australia and Ben Wilks is set to be Cupra's inaugural Australian Director when it launches next year.