Volkswagen announced on Friday that Frank Fischer, who led the company's operations in Chattanooga from 2008-2014, is returning to the plant as chief executive.
Mr. Fischer was with the local plant when they broke ground in 2008. He left Chattanooga in 2014 to work for a Volkswagen factory in Germany.
Mr. Fischer will take the place of Antonio Pinto, who is transferring to Germany.
Southern Momentum, a grassroots group of Volkswagen Chattanooga workers who oppose the United Auto Workers, on Friday released the following statement.
“I could not be more excited to welcome Frank back to Chattanooga,” said Brandi Gengler, a team member at Volkswagen Chattanooga. “Frank helped build our plant from the ground up and is loved by our employees. Through Frank’s leadership, the Passat was launched into the North American market, and the Atlas is now being built in Chattanooga due in large part to the way he pulled our team together and prepared us for a second line. Our employees cheered today’s news and look forward to seeing Frank back on the plant floor soon.”
“Frank always treated our workforce as family, so it is great to have him back,” said Jeremy Metzger, a team lead at Volkswagen Chattanooga. “Being able to welcome Frank home is a wonderful contrast to the noise we have had to endure lately from outsiders who continue to attack our family here at Volkswagen.”