{"id":50134,"date":"2020-08-06T09:23:09","date_gmt":"2020-08-06T07:23:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/udexpress\/schaefer-leaves-vwsa-to-join-skoda-20200805-2\/"},"modified":"2025-03-21T15:01:45","modified_gmt":"2025-03-21T13:01:45","slug":"schaefer-leaves-vwsa-to-join-skoda-20200805-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/udexpress\/schaefer-leaves-vwsa-to-join-skoda-20200805-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Schaefer leaves VWSA to join SKODA"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div contenteditable=\"false\" data-embed24=\"Images\" data-pos=\"left\" id=\"embed_e7f0dc65\">\n<div class=\"slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" data-smallsrc=\"https:\/\/cdn.24.co.za\/files\/Cms\/General\/d\/9074\/8ccfe6f72272495a81247b5326e0e0cd.jpg\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.24.co.za\/files\/Cms\/General\/d\/9074\/08ebdcc69a4e47d0a85c960639d3a0d4.jpg\" title=\"Thomas Schaefer has left Volkswagen Group South Africa (VWSA) to join SKODA Auto as the new Global CEO.              Photo:QUICKPIC\"><p><\/p>\n<div class=\"caption\">Thomas Schaefer has left Volkswagen Group South Africa (VWSA) to join SKODA Auto as the new Global CEO.              Photo:QUICKPIC<\/div>\n<div class=\"img_accreditation\"><span class=\"source\" style=\"display:none;\"><\/span><span class=\"photographer\" style=\"display:none;\"><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" data-smallsrc=\"https:\/\/cdn.24.co.za\/files\/Cms\/General\/d\/9074\/29c186694032442c881b0e30b9130ae6.jpg\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.24.co.za\/files\/Cms\/General\/d\/9074\/5195155209dd4ec19245ff17c18f8b00.jpg\" title=\"Dr Robert Cisek has been appointed as the new Chairman and Managing Director of VWSA.                                     Photo:QUICKPIC\"><p><\/p>\n<div class=\"caption\">Dr Robert Cisek has been appointed as the new Chairman and Managing Director of VWSA.                                     Photo:QUICKPIC<\/div>\n<div class=\"img_accreditation\"><span class=\"source\" style=\"display:none;\"><\/span><span class=\"photographer\" style=\"display:none;\"><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Thomas Schaefer has left Volkswagen Group South Africa (VWSA) to join SKODA Auto as the new Global CEO effective from Monday, 3 August 2020.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cMy tenure as the MD of VWSA has been the highlight of my career so far. I am immensely proud to have worked for and led such an impactful and good company,\u201d said Schaefer who has been the Chairman and Managing Director of VWSA since February 2015.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cTogether with my team, we have moved VWSA forward with outstanding production and sales results which have earned our company recognition locally and abroad.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In 2017, his role was expanded to include the responsibility for Sub Saharan Africa as part of Volkswagen\u2019s expansion strategy into the region. Since then, Volkswagen has established its presence in Kenya, Rwanda and Ghana, and has signed memorandums of understanding with the governments of Nigeria and Ethiopia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Under Schaefer\u2019s leadership, VWSA has continued to maintain its dominance in the local passenger car market, with the Polo and Polo Vivo manufactured at the Uitenhage factory as the best-selling passenger models as well as ramping up international exports by 30%.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In 2019, VWSA enjoyed a record year with the Uitenhage factory achieving its highest production volume of 161 954 units and the Volkswagen Brand reporting a record-market share of 20.4%, the highest since 1996.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Schaefer will be succeeded by Dr Robert Cisek (44), who is currently responsible for the Production Strategy of the Volkswagen Passenger Cars Brand in Wolfsburg. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Dr Cisek holds a doctorate degree in Industrial Management from the Technical University of Munich. He also holds a degree in Mechanical Engineering from Technical University of Munich. He joined Volkswagen in 2018 from BMW Group. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Dr Cisek has also worked for McKinsey &amp; Company where he served clients in automotive, aerospace and defence, telecommunication and industrial automation on topics such as growth strategy, portfolio optimisation, research and development efficiency and manufacturing excellence.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Thomas Schaefer has left Volkswagen Group South Africa (VWSA) to join SKODA Auto as the new Global CEO effective from Monday, 3 August 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