Wolfgang Bernhard, chairman of the Volkswagen brand group and member of the company’s board of management, will leave the company by mutual agreement on January 31.

VW said the move was due to a ‘reorganisation of responsibilities within the Volkswagen group’.

Bernhard has been a member of Volkswagen’s board since February 1, 2005; since May 2005, he has been responsible for the Volkswagen brand as chairman of the brand group.

Martin Winterkorn, VW’s chief executive will replace Bernhard’s position on the board.