Skip to main content
Sister Publication Links
  • Automotive News
  • Automotive News Europe
  • Automotive News Mexico
  • Automotive News China
Subscribe
  • Subscribe
  • Newsletters
  • login
  • HOME
  • NEWS BY BRAND
    • Aston Martin
    • BMW
    • Daimler
    • Fiat Chrysler
    • Ford
    • General Motors
    • Honda
    • Hyundai
    • Mazda
    • Mitsubishi
    • Nissan
    • Subaru
    • Tata
    • Tesla
    • Toyota
    • Volkswagen
    • Volvo
    • Mini
    • Rolls Royce
    • Mercedes Benz
    • Smart
    • Alfa Romeo
    • Chrysler
    • Dodge
    • Ferrari
    • Fiat
    • Jeep
    • Lancia
    • Maserati
    • Ram
    • Lincoln
    • Buick
    • Cadillac
    • Chevrolet
    • GMC
    • Acura
    • Kia
    • Infiniti
    • Jaguar
    • Land Rover
    • Lexus
    • Audi
    • Bentley
    • Bugatti
    • Lamborghini
    • Porsche
  • News
    • Auto Shows
    • Photo Galleries
    • Automakers
    • Suppliers
    • Retail
    • Government Relations
    • Trade and Tariffs
    • Technology
    • Labour
    • Lawsuit challenges Trump's authority on steel, auto tariffs
      Automaker-supplier relationships take a hit
      Ghosn's ace for growth: Suppliers
      In-demand tech puts wary suppliers on guard, study finds
    • U.S. metal tariffs sting Magna, but USMCA brings promise of additional work
      U.S. tariffs on steel, aluminum could be gone in weeks, ambassador says
      Magna posts record Q4 revenue, but profits and margins decline
      Ontario aims to replace GM with Magna, Martinrea or other in Oshawa
    • Kia dealer Benny Leung a true Canadian-immigrant success story
      AutoCanada sues former CEO Patrick Priestner for $250M over dealership acquisitions
      Rolls-Royce names BMW exec its new sales VP for Americas
      How GM's Oshawa closure could affect sales, dealerships
    • Level 3 autonomous vehicles now allowed on Ontario roads
      Ford adds 149,652 vehicles in Canada to Takata airbag recall
      Honda wants recall notices to be part of registration renewals
      All wet: Rain could delay the arrival of self-driving future
    • U.S. metal tariffs sting Magna, but USMCA brings promise of additional work
      U.S. tariffs on steel, aluminum could be gone in weeks, ambassador says
      A look at which automakers in Canada meet USMCA's 75% content rule
      Canada seeks Pelosi's support in push to lift U.S. metal tariffs
    • Vehicle screens go super-sized at CES as tech catches up
      All in a day's work
      Ford commits US$4 billion to autonomous vehicles, forms new subsidiary
      Massive data breach at Canadian company hits several automakers, report says
    • GM Canada says it will find 2,400 jobs for Oshawa workers
      FCA to idle Ontario minivan plant for 8 days, union says
      Unifor calls for boycott of GM vehicles if automaker closes Oshawa plant
      Unifor's Jerry Dias, Magna's Don Walker named Automotive News All Stars
    • Toronto Auto Show
  • Opinion
    • Blogs
    • Chevy's 2019 Blazer: More Camaro, less Equinox
      Trump's troubling definition of victory
      The 2019 Nautilus: Lincoln's Cadillac Super Cruise fighter?
      What Cadillac dealers can expect from Steve Carlisle
  • EVENTS, WEBINARS & AWARDS
    • 2018 Auto News Canada All Stars
    • Best Dealership To Work For
    • Canada Congress
    • Webinars
    • More women in dealerships is just plain good for business
    • VIDEO: Why Ford's Hinrichs is bullish on USMCA
      Ontario aims to replace GM with Magna, Martinrea or other in Oshawa
      Dealers told standalone stores 'difficult to remain profitable'
      Ford's Joe Hinrichs: Plant closures have 'cascading effects' on industry
  • +MORE
    • NEWSLETTERS
    • SUBSCRIBE
    • CLASSIFIEDS
    • CONTACT US
    • DIGITAL EDITION
MENU
Breadcrumb
  1. Home
  2. Canada
October 10, 2018 01:00 AM

Audi's Keogh to succeed Woebcken as CEO of VW Group in North America

Larry P. Vellequette
  • Tweet
  • Share
  • Share
  • Email
  • More
    Print
    BLOOMBERG
    Scott Keogh will become the first American to hold the German automaker's top job in North America in 25 years.

    Scott Keogh will become CEO of Volkswagen Group's North American operations on Nov. 1, giving a VW Canada CEO Daniel Weissland a new colleague south of the border.

    Keogh, 49, will succeed Hinrich Woebcken, 58, a former BMW executive who took over in April 2016 amid VW's diesel emissions scandal.

    When Keogh becomes CEO, he will be the first American to hold the German automaker's top job in North America in 25 years.

    Keogh has steered Audi to 107 straight months of U.S. sales gains. Now, he’ll work closely with both Canadian and Mexican VW officials.

    In 2016, Volkswagen established what it calls the North American Region (NAR) “in order to take advantage of the synergies available within each of the three markets, Canada, the United States and Mexico,” VW Canada spokesman Thomas Tetzlaff said.

    While Volkswagen Canada operates independently, it does report to VW’s world headquarters in Germany through the North American Region. So, Wiessland will now report to Keogh, who is also head of the NAR.

    Keogh will be succeeded as president of Audi of America on Dec. 1 by Mark Del Rosso, 54. Del Rosso transferred to run VW's Bentley unit in North America in 2017 after nine years as COO of Audi, where he was Keogh's top lieutenant. A successor for Del Rosso at Bentley has not been named.

    Woebcken, who has sought greater independence from VW's headquarters in Wolfsburg, Germany, will remain "available to the company in the North American region as senior executive strategy adviser," the automaker said in a statement.

    Herbert Diess, CEO of Volkswagen Group, credited Woebcken with restoring confidence in the Volkswagen brand in North America after emissions violations, and said Keogh can help the brand achieve its lofty long-term sales goals in North America. Woebcken and Keogh were Automotive News All-Stars in 2017.

    "Hinrich J. Woebcken has brought the Volkswagen brand back on track for success in the U.S. and the North American Region. Considering the challenging conditions these achievements deserve my dedicated recognition," Diess said in a statement. "After the successful comeback of the Volkswagen brand Scott Keogh, who led Audi to excellence in the U.S., will build upon the momentum and implement the next stage in the growth strategy as we continue to develop Volkswagen into a more relevant player in North America."

    Keogh joined Audi of America as chief marketing officer in 2006, when the brand had about 90,000 U.S. sales annually. With a focus on brand building and customer satisfaction, he helped grow the brand over the next dozen years into a premium powerhouse that rivals BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Lexus. He became president in 2012.

    Audi has the U.S. industry's longest string of year-over-year monthly sales gains at 107 months. The brand last recorded a monthly sales decline in October 2009. In 2017, Audi totaled U.S. sales of 226,511 vehicles, an increase of 7.8 percent from the previous year. This year through September, the brand's U.S. sales are up another 4 percent from a year earlier to 167,420.

    The last American to lead Volkswgen's U.S. operations was John Kerr, who left amid turmoil in late 1993.

    Greg Layson of Automotive News Canada contributed to this report.

    Recommended for You
    Digital Edition
    Thumbnail
    View latest issue
    See our archive
    Sign up for free newsletters
    EMAIL ADDRESS

    Please enter a valid email address.

    Please enter your email address.

    Please select at least one newsletter to subscribe.

    You can unsubscribe at any time through links in these emails. For more information, see our Privacy Policy.

    Get Free Newsletters

    Sign up today for our Weekly Newsletter, Daily Newsletter and Breaking News Alerts. We'll deliver the news you need to know straight to your inbox.

    You can unsubscribe at any time through links in these emails. For more information, see our Privacy Policy.

    Subscribe Today

    An Automotive News Canada subscription includes 12 monthly issues – delivered in print to your doorstep, and digitally to your inbox – plus unlimited, 24/7 access to our website.

    Subscribe
    Connect With Us
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Instagram

    Our Mission

    The Automotive News Canada mission is to be the primary source of industry news, data and understanding for the industry's decision-makers interested in Canada.

    Contact Us

    PO Box 243
    Station A
    Windsor, ON
    N9A 6K7

    1-877-812-1257

    Email Us

    Resources
    • About us
    • Contact Us
    • Digital Edition Archive
    • Advertise with Us
    • Reprints
    • Ad Choices Ad Choices
    • Sitemap
    Legal
    • Terms and Conditions
    • Privacy Policy
    Copyright © 1996-2019. Crain Communications, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
    • HOME
    • NEWS BY BRAND
      • Aston Martin
      • BMW
        • Mini
        • Rolls Royce
      • Daimler
        • Mercedes Benz
        • Smart
      • Fiat Chrysler
        • Alfa Romeo
        • Chrysler
        • Dodge
        • Ferrari
        • Fiat
        • Jeep
        • Lancia
        • Maserati
        • Ram
      • Ford
        • Lincoln
      • General Motors
        • Buick
        • Cadillac
        • Chevrolet
        • GMC
      • Honda
        • Acura
      • Hyundai
        • Kia
      • Mazda
      • Mitsubishi
      • Nissan
        • Infiniti
      • Subaru
      • Tata
        • Jaguar
        • Land Rover
      • Tesla
      • Toyota
        • Lexus
      • Volkswagen
        • Audi
        • Bentley
        • Bugatti
        • Lamborghini
        • Porsche
      • Volvo
    • News
      • Auto Shows
        • Toronto Auto Show
      • Photo Galleries
      • Automakers
      • Suppliers
      • Retail
      • Government Relations
      • Trade and Tariffs
      • Technology
      • Labour
    • Opinion
      • Blogs
    • EVENTS, WEBINARS & AWARDS
      • 2018 Auto News Canada All Stars
      • Best Dealership To Work For
      • Canada Congress
      • Webinars
    • +MORE
      • NEWSLETTERS
      • SUBSCRIBE
      • CLASSIFIEDS
      • CONTACT US
      • DIGITAL EDITION