Alexander Pollich is moving to the Shanghai based position of president and CEO Porsche China, Hong Kong and Macao.

He has held a variety of management positions in 23 years with the automaker and, since 2018, has been chairman of the executive board of Porsche Germany.

"As an internationally experienced sales expert, Pollich will be responsible for the important Chinese sales market," Porsche said in a statement.

Its first half 2024 sales fell 7% year on year to 155,945 vehicles but plunged by a third in China. China sales were off 33% to 29,551 vehicles with the automaker explaining: “The main reasons for this still are the ongoing tense economic situation in the Chinese market and the focus on value oriented sales.”

A new post for Pollich's predecessor in China, Michael Kirsch, will be announced later.

Pollich, 57, has also headed Porsche in Canada and the UK and previously worked in the strategy department before setting up global sales network development for the brand.

“We are delighted to have secured Alexander Pollich – a proven and experienced sales professional – for the Chinese market, which is particularly challenging at this time. He will further strengthen the attractiveness of the Porsche brand in China,” said sales and marketing chief Detlev von Platen.

Pollich’s principal tasks would include the implementation of a value oriented and brand appropriate growth strategy for China with a focus on "more intensive collaboration with the local dealer partners as well as the further optimisation of the internal processes and structures".

There have been reports of dealer dissatisfaction with the automaker's approach to changes in China.

Germany will be managed temporarily by CFO Karsten Sohns and COO Thomas Illner.