By David Sachs

Audi said Thursday that Gernot Doellner would become chief executive at the luxury car maker as of Sept. 1, replacing Markus Duesmann in a move aimed at strengthening the company's product strategy and position in important markets.

"Shaping Audi's role as an independent brand with entrepreneurial autonomy within the framework of the VW Group will be of primary importance," Deputy Chairman Peter Mosch said.

Doellner has been with Volkswagen, Audi's parent company, since 1993 and since 2021 has overseen the Volkswagen group's product and group strategy, Audi said.

Duesmann has been CEO at Audi since 2020. Shortly before the announcement, German newspaper Handelsblatt said there had been disagreements on the management board and that Duesmann had lost the confidence of his team.

Audi declined to comment on the report. Volkswagen didn't respond immediately to a request for comment.


Write to David Sachs at david.sachs@wsj.com at david.sachs@wsj.com


(END) Dow Jones Newswires

06-29-23 1150ET