Volkswagen Group has highlighted a desire to “enhance its customer focus” under a new chairman after announcing that Oliver Blume would take the reins from Herbert Deiss.

The chairman of the German manufacturing giant’s supervisory board, Hans Dieter Pötsch, praised Deiss for steering the company through “extremely turbulent waters” as his successor was announced during a meeting on Friday (July 22).

Blume will take over as chairman on September 1 while retaining a position as chairman of Porsche which he has held since 2015.

Pötsch thanked Herbert Diess on behalf of the entire board, stating: “During his tenure as Chairman of the Board of Management of the Volkswagen Passenger Cars Brand and as Chairman of the Group Board of Management, Herbert Diess played a key role in advancing the transformation of the company.

“The Group and its brands are viable for the future; its innovative capabilities and earning power are strengthened.