12 November 2024

Volkswagen Group UK managing director Alex Smith is to leave the company after six years in the role.

He is leaving the company at his own request.

Alex Smith

Damien O’Sullivan will take over as MD on 1 December. Smith will depart the business after a handover period.

O’Sullivan is currently Audi brand director at Volkswagen Group Ireland. Prior to this, he spent six years in the Group’s overseas and China regions as VP of dealer development for Audi at the firm’s FAW joint venture.

He joined Volkswagen Group Ireland in 2009 as a finance controller, before moving to roles in sales and aftersales.

Smith departs after nearly six years in the role. He rejoined Volkswagen as Group MD in January 2019, after leaving the firm to be MD at Nissan Motor GB.

Prior to that, he had spent more than nine years at Volkswagen, rising to be director of passenger cars; he joined Volkswagen after four years at Kia UK.

“I’m very proud of everything the team and the networks have achieved in a period which has included Brexit, a pandemic, a supply crisis and the introduction of mass-market electromobility,” he said in a statement.

“With Volkswagen the UK’s number one passenger car brand, Audi at number two and both Skoda and Seat/Cupra achieving record market shares so far this year, as well as Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles in number two position in the van market, it feels like the right time to hand over to Damien to continue building on Volkswagen Group’s market leading performance in the UK.”

Damien O’Sullivan

Stefan Specht, chairman of the Volkswagen Group UK supervisory board, said: “I’m delighted that Damien has agreed to take on this new role as Managing Director of Volkswagen Group UK, and am confident he is well positioned to lead the UK’s biggest automotive group through the significant changes we know are ahead.

“I’d also like to thank Alex for his dedication and massive contribution over the past six years, and I wish him all the best for the future.”

Tags: Alex Smith, Damien O’Sullivan, Volkswagen Group UK