Hu (pictured) confirmed by phone today that starting from the beginning of January, Till Scheer, most recently head of Bentley China, has taken over Hu’s MD role.
"I am having a job rotation within the Volkswagen Group after two years being the MD of VW brand at VGIC," Hu told Campaign Asia-Pacific. "The specific job title will be announced by the company possibly in Q2 this year. I have been tasked with some projects at VGIC.”
Hu has held the MD post since April 2012, when he returned to Volkswagen after a stint with Land Rover China. Prior to that, he was head of brand marketing at Volkswagen Group China for six years.
An internal source at Volkswagen Group China commented that leaders who are doing a good job in the company "don't get rotated" to undefined positions, they get extended.
However, Volkswagen just surpassed General Motors to become the top foreign automaker in China for the first time in nine years, according to figures from the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers.
Last February, we covered the earlier leadership changes news at VGIC and VWG, respectively.
Last week VGIC announced it would give some of its creative advertising duties to Saatchi & Saatchi, reducing the account of DDB Guoan.