Volkswagen Group has appointed Ludwig Fazel as its new Head of Group Strategy, Group Product Strategy and General Secretariat, effective Dec. 1, following the departure of Stefan Weckbach, the automaker said.
Fazel will report directly to Volkswagen Group Chief Executive Oliver Blume, maintaining the same reporting structure as his predecessors. He previously served as Chief Operating Officer of Volkswagen Group Components while also leading Strategy and Platform Business for Volkswagen Group Technology.
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He succeeds Weckbach, who joined Volkswagen in 2023 after being appointed by Blume and held the roles of head of corporate strategy, corporate product strategy and executive secretary to the CEO. Last month, German business publication Manager Magazin reported that Weckbach was preparing to leave Volkswagen for a competing automaker, though the report did not specify which rival. Volkswagen declined to comment at the time, the magazine said.
The publication described the unexpected move as causing “internal strife,” given Weckbach’s central role in shaping the group’s strategic direction and supporting Blume’s restructuring efforts. A longtime Porsche executive and former Taycan chief developer, Weckbach had been regarded as a close ally of Blume.
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Volkswagen credited Weckbach with advancing several key future-oriented projects. “We would like to thank Stefan Weckbach for his strong commitment over the past years. With his expertise, he has driven key future projects such as Scout and our joint venture with Rivian and played a decisive role in positioning Volkswagen as the Global Automotive Tech Driver,” Blume said. “I am pleased that Ludwig Fazel, an experienced strategist, will take over this important role.”
Fazel joined Volkswagen Group in 2017 after nearly a decade as a management consultant at Roland Berger. He studied Technology and Management-Oriented Business Administration at the Technical University of Munich and Singapore’s Nanyang Business School. Volkswagen said he “played a key role in transforming the Group’s components business and making it future-proof.”
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Most recently, Fazel oversaw Volkswagen Group Components’ global production network with around 65,000 employees and led the strategic direction of Volkswagen Group Technology, which includes the components, battery and charging and energy business areas. The company said he also expanded platform and component sales to external partners including Ford Motor and Mahindra, with a focus on the MEB electric vehicle architecture.
The leadership changes come as Porsche prepares for its own management transition. Porsche AG confirmed in October that Michael Leiters will take over as chief executive officer from Blume starting Jan. 1, 2026, while Blume will continue to lead the Volkswagen Group, with his contract extended until 2030.
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“The Supervisory Board of Porsche AG has appointed Dr. Michael Leiters as CEO of Porsche AG, effective as of January 1, 2026. Dr. Oliver Blume, who has led Porsche AG as CEO for ten years, will continue to serve as CEO of Volkswagen Group,” Porsche said in a joint statement.