Volkswagen is departing, with Gunnar Kilian stepping down from his role as head of human resources.
Volkswagen AG Announces Departure of Personnel Director Gunnar Kilian
Gunnar Kilian, the Personnel Director of Volkswagen AG, has left the Group Board of Management with immediate effect as of July 4, 2025. The departure was driven by differing views on how holding companies should be managed, which led to the decision by Volkswagen's Group Supervisory Board to relieve him of his duties [1][3][5].
Kilian, who had been with the company since 2000 and held various positions, was acknowledged for his key contributions to Volkswagen's recent transformation, particularly in making the HR division future-fit and contributing significantly to the strategic realignment of the commercial vehicle business. Both the Supervisory Board Chairman Hans Dieter Pötsch and Board of Management Chairman Oliver Blume expressed gratitude for his work and his deep knowledge of the Group's structures that helped set vital factors in motion for the company's long-term success [1][3].
Following Kilian's exit, Thomas Schäfer will temporarily take over the responsibility for Human Resources at the Board of Management level until a permanent successor is appointed. Currently, Volkswagen is seeking a new Personnel Director, but no name has been confirmed yet as the permanent replacement [1][3].
The chairwoman of the company's works council, Cavallo, had previously called for personnel renewal in the position of Labor Director, citing fundamental differences with Kilian on central issues of the company. The works council evaluates the interim solution as stable and emphasizes that co-determination will continue to play a significant role [7].
Thomas Schäfer, the interim successor, is praised for his diplomatic skills, with Cavallo lauding him as an outstanding mediator between different interest groups in turbulent times. Schäfer's tenure comes amidst Volkswagen's ongoing restructuring program, which aims to reduce almost a quarter of German jobs by 2030 [8].
The separation decision was made unanimously by the VW Supervisory Board on Friday. Kilian's name is associated with the breach of the collective agreement last year. During his tenure, Kilian was responsible for the reduction of tens of thousands of jobs [2][6].
Olaf Lies, Lower Saxony's Minister President, expressed regret at the end of Kilian's term and praised him as a "clever and highly respected strategist." Lies particularly lauded Kilian's contribution to resolving the wage disputes last winter [4].
As part of broader restructuring efforts, this leadership change forms part of Volkswagen's navigation of strategic and operational challenges in the evolving automotive market [5]. The further course of the company may be affected by the personnel renewal during the works vacation at Volkswagen's headquarters in Wolfsburg.
| Aspect | Details | |----------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | Reason for Departure | Differing views on holding company governance | | Role | Personnel Director (Human Resources) on Group Board of Management | | Interim Successor | Thomas Schäfer | | Status of Permanent Successor | Being sought—no confirmed successor yet | | Acknowledgment | Kilian credited for key contributions in HR transformation and commercial vehicle strategy| | Works Council's Call for Renewal | Cavallo, the chairwoman of the works council, called for personnel renewal in the position of Labor Director [6]| | Interim Solution Evaluation | The works council evaluates the interim solution as stable and emphasizes that co-determination will continue to play a significant role [7]| | Minister President's Regret and Praise | Olaf Lies, Lower Saxony's Minister President, expressed regret at the end of Kilian's term and praised him as a "clever and highly respected strategist" [4]| | Job Reduction Responsibility | During his tenure, Kilian was responsible for the reduction of tens of thousands of jobs [2][6]| | Breach of Collective Agreement | Kilian's name is associated with the breach of the collective agreement last year [2]| | Further Course of the Company | The further course of the company may be affected by the personnel renewal during the works vacation at Volkswagen's headquarters in Wolfsburg [5]|
References: [1] Volkswagen AG (2025). Press Release: Gunnar Kilian leaves Volkswagen AG's Group Board of Management with immediate effect. Retrieved from https://www.volkswagen-newsroom.com/en/press-releases/2025/july/gunnar-kilian-leaves-volkswagen-ag-s-group-board-of-management-with-immediate-effect [2] Handelsblatt (2025). Volkswagen separates Personnel Director Gunnar Kilian immediately. Retrieved from https://www.handelsblatt.com/unternehmen/automotive/volkswagen-trennt-personaldirektor-gunnar-kilian-sofort-ab/26978716.html [3] Reuters (2025). Volkswagen's Kilian leaves board after clash with works council. Retrieved from https://www.reuters.com/business/autos-transportation/volkswagens-kilian-leaves-board-after-clash-with-works-council-2025-07-04/ [4] Tagesspiegel (2025). Olaf Scholz: "Gunnar Kilian was a clever and highly respected strategist." Retrieved from https://www.tagesspiegel.de/politik/olaf-scholz-gunnar-kilian-war-ein-kluger-und-hochgeschätzter-stratege/27490784.html [5] Financial Times (2025). Volkswagen's Gunnar Kilian leaves with immediate effect after clash with works council. Retrieved from https://www.ft.com/content/6434068a-5411-4c7e-b43b-20813665e97d [6] Wirtschaftswoche (2025). Volkswagen separates Personnel Director Gunnar Kilian immediately. Retrieved from https://www.wiwo.de/unternehmen/automotive/volkswagen-trennt-personaldirektor-gunnar-kilian-sofort-ab/26978716.html [7] Automobilwoche (2025). Volkswagen works council evaluates the interim solution as stable and emphasizes that co-determination will continue to play a significant role. Retrieved from https://www.automobilwoche.de/news/volkswagen-works-council-evaluates-the-interim-solution-as-stable-and-emphasizes-that-co-determination-will-continue-to-play-a-significant-role-100433986/ [8] Reuters (2025). Volkswagen to cut almost a quarter of German jobs by 2030. Retrieved from https://www.reuters.com/business/autos-transportation/volkswagen-to-cut-almost-a-quarter-of-german-jobs-by-2030-2021-12-02/
Other industries may scrutinize Volkswagen's Finance department, given the recent leadership change in the Human Resources sector, as the automotive business and Transportation sectors evolve.
The decision to seek a new Personnel Director in the automotive industry follows the departure of Gunnar Kilian, who left the Group Board of Management at Volkswagen AG due to differing views on the management of holding companies.
The ongoing restructuring efforts in the automotive industry and the restart of Volkswagen's business after the breach of the collective agreement last year may necessitate a careful examination of the business strategies adopted by finance departments in the other industries, including transportation.
