Bernhard Maier steps down as Skoda boss

Skoda Auto will select a new chairman following the resignation of Bernhard Maier, who has led the Czech car maker for the last five years.

Maier began his professional career in 1984 at Nixdorf Computer AG, before joining BMW in 1988.

In 2001, he took over as chairman of the Board of Management of Porsche Deutschland GmbH, and in 2010 was appointed board member for sales and marketing at Dr. Ing. h. c. F. Porsche AG. In this role, Maier is credited for radically modernised the trade and sales organisation.

Under his leadership, the international trade organisation expanded significantly, and worldwide customer deliveries tripled.

In November 2015, Maier was appointed chairman of the board of Skoda Auto. He led key aspects of the company’s reorientation in the areas of electromobility, digitalisation and connectivity, new mobility services and the implementation of a broad-based product campaign for the brand.

Under Maier’s leadership, Skoda introduced a new range of SUVs, including Kodiaq, Karoq, Kamiq and the Scala hatchback.

He also oversaw the development of the Enyaq iV - the first model designed purely as an electric vehicle. Sales increased to approx. 1.3 million vehicles per year, under Maier’s leadership and the brand achieved record figures for sales and operating profit.

Herbert Diess, chairman of the Board of Management of the Volkswagen Group, said: “Bernhard Maier is one of the most experienced automotive managers in the Volkswagen Group. In his role as chairman of the board of Skoda Auto, he has made an extraordinary contribution to enhancing the brand’s profile. His years at Skoda are among the most successful in the company’s 125-year history. I would like to thank Bernhard Maier for this and almost two decades of particularly successful years, first at Porsche and then at Skoda.”

Maier’s successor will be elected in accordance with Czech law and subsequently announced at the first Board meeting of Skoda Auto in August 2020