VW Appoints New Head of Development for Commercial Vehicles

Harald Ludanek, Ph.D., has been appointed new board member for Technical Development at Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles brand in Hannover, Germany. He is currently Member of the Scania Executive Board and Executive Vice President, Head of Research and Development. Ludanek succeeds Hans-Joachim Rothenpieler, who will take over as Head of Quality Assurance in the Volkswagen Group on Feb. 15, 2016.

Ludanek has been with the Volkswagen Group since 1992. He began his professional career at Volkswagen researching special gear units and transmission technology. His functions included head of Group development coordination. Ludanek was member of the Board of Directors for Technical Development at ŠKODA from 2002 to 2007. He subsequently assumed responsibility for total vehicle development and prototype construction at the Volkswagen brand. As executive board member of Scania CV AB in Södertälje, he has headed research and development since 2012.

Ludanek succeeds Hans-Joachim Rothenpieler, who since July 2014 had been member of the Board of Management of Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles responsible for the Development division.