Volkswagen has made several new appointments to key positions on the Brand Board of Management, including Thomas Ulbrich as head of the newly created New Mobility Division and Kai Grünitz as his successor to lead Technical Development.

The leadership changes, effective October 1, are intended to lay “crucial foundations for the company’s transformation toward the age of digital and autonomous mobility,” according to the carmaker.

Other new appointments include Alexander Seitz, now executive chairman of Volkswagen Group South American Region and Patrik Andreas Mayer as CFO for Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand.

“With the newly created New Mobility division, we’re bundling the strategic action areas of electric mobility and software, thereby increasing our pace of innovation,” said Thomas Schäfer, CEO of the Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand and head of the Brand Group Volume.

A graduate of the Hamburg University of Applied Sciences where he studied automotive engineering, Ulbrich began his career with Volkswagen in 1992. Serving in several management positions, including two stints in Volkswagen’s China offices, he most recently was responsible for the company’s electric mobility endeavors, managing the ID.301 and ID.402 products from sketch to street.

In his new role, Ulbrich is expected to help shape the technological transformation toward digitalized mobility at Volkswagen. He has also been elected to the supervisory board of CARIAD, the carmaker’s automotive software unit.

Grünitz holds a degree in mechanical and industrial engineering. During his nearly 26-year career with Volkswagen, he has held various roles in development and management. As head of development at Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, he made a significant contribution to the launch of the ID. Buzz, said Schafer.

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