After successfully completing its ramp up, the Volkswagen plant in Chattanooga has passed the landmark of 3,000 employees and continues to hire local talents. At the same time, several foreign service employees will leave Chattanooga for new assignments and hand over responsibilities to locally developed successors. In addition, a major management reshuffle will become effective by July 1.
At the top management level Don Jackson will leave his position as president of manufacturing of Volkswagen Group of America. He said, “The ramp up of our plant is completed and I know that the local team has the skill to improve our new plant to the next level. I am proud to have helped create new jobs in North America and develop people. After the fourth ramp up of a car plant it is the right moment now to take a break and then pass on my experiences to regional business to help rebuild America’s manufacturing base.”
Frank Fischer, CEO and chairman of Volkswagen Group of America, Chattanooga Operations, thanked him, saying, ”Don’s experience and advice was a crucial factor for the successful ramp up of the plant and the development of a local leadership team. We thank him for his support, will stay in touch and wish him the very best for his plans here in Chattanooga.”
Mr. Jackson’s responsibilities will be taken over by Frank Fischer on an acting basis, until a successor is named.
Among other management changes Lothar Grensemann, general manager for the paint shop, will leave for the partner plant in Emden, Germany, and be succeeded by Dean Parker. Fernando Ribiero, general manager for controlling, will leave for Mexico and be succeeded by Tom Miller. On all levels, this summer more than 30 foreign service employees are taking new assignments worldwide.
Mr. Fischer said, “They had a very challenging job in managing the successful completion and ramp up of the new plant and building the new team. We thank them for their outstanding performance and wish them all the best for their future career. At the same time I am very proud of our new local managers who have developed within the company the last years. They will be crucial for our future success in Chattanooga.”