Volkswagen Group’s supervisory board is due to meet early next week to discuss the future of suspended Audi CEO Rupert Stadler, according to reports in the German media.
Der Spiegel reported that the board is due to decide whether Stadler, who is in police custody, should give up his position.
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The magazine said it was probable that Stadler would be asked to relinquish the role. Both VW and Audi have said that Stadler is presumed innocent unless proven otherwise.
A source told Reuters the reason for the supervisory board meeting was to discuss further steps towards a possible listing of VW’s truck and bus subsidiary and not Stadler. However, Stadler’s case is also expected to be raised.
Reuters noted that Volkswagen declined to comment on the report.
Last month Stadler lost an appeal to be released from jail amid continuing ‘dieselgate’ investigations.
Stadler was detained by the German authorities in June amid suggestions that he was seeking to influence witnesses as investigations continue into Audi executives’ role or knowledge in the ‘dieselgate’ emissions cheat scandal. Stadler was arrested after his phone was tapped by the police, creating concerns that he was trying to influence witnesses.
Ex-BMW executive Markus Duesmann appears to have been lined up to take over as permanent Audi CEO from January 2019. The precise timing of Duesmann being appointed as CEO is complicated by his existing contract at BMW where he is responsible for purchasing.
In July, the VW supervisory board decided to offer Markus Duesmann a position on the Group Board of Management. Mr Duesmann, currently Board of Management member for Purchasing and Supplier Network at BMW AG, will take up his new position as ‘soon as he is able to do so’, VW said. An agreement to this effect has already been signed.
