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Volkswagen separates from HR manager Kilian: a new beginning is imminent!
Volkswagen is separating from Human Resources Director Gunnar Kilian. Reasons include loss of trust and restructuring by 2030.
Volkswagen separates from HR manager Kilian: a new beginning is imminent!
Volkswagen has separated from its Chief Human Resources Officer Gunnar Kilian with immediate effect. This decision was made unanimously by the VW supervisory board and comes at a challenging time for the automobile manufacturer. Under Kilian's leadership, numerous jobs have been cut and the company has initiated an ambitious restructuring program by 2030, which plans to cut almost a quarter of German jobs, but without any redundancies. This reports Antenna Münster.
Kilian, who has been with the company since 2000 and labor director since 2018, had to contend with numerous challenges during his tenure, such as the diesel crisis, digital transformation and the corona pandemic. In his last statement on LinkedIn, he expressed gratitude for over 20 years with the group. Nevertheless, he lost the trust of both the employee representatives and the employers, which further facilitated the decision to separate.
Reasons for the separation
A key reason for the separation is the existence of “different ideas regarding the management of investment companies”. This has been highlighted by company management and reflects internal tensions that have increased in recent months. Daniela Cavallo, the chairwoman of the group works council, emphasized that Kilian's name was linked to the termination of the collective agreement family and called for a new beginning in terms of personnel for the position of labor director. She described Kilian's role as an “outstanding diplomat” in turbulent times and emphasized the need to provide new impetus ZDF reported.
Thomas Schäfer, VW's brand boss, will take over the management of the human resources department on an interim basis, while the search for a permanent successor has already begun. Proposals for this important position traditionally come from the employee side. Arne Meiswinkel will probably be responsible for the operational implementation of the personnel strategies.
Impact on the workforce
The separation from Kilian comes at a critical time, as Volkswagen is setting its course for the future and is implementing a significant restructuring program. Almost 25% of the approximately 130,000 German jobs are to be eliminated by 2030, mainly through early retirement regulations and severance payments, without any redundancies being made for operational reasons. The regulations for partial retirement have been expanded to support employees in this restructuring phase.
Lower Saxony's Prime Minister Olaf Lies expressed regret over Kilian's end and praised his contribution to resolving collective bargaining disputes in the company. The works council assessed the interim solution as stable and emphasized the importance of co-determination in the coming decisions. The effects of the new personnel on the future course of the group remain open and will be followed with excitement.