The new Audi CEO Bram Schot wants to establish itself as a consequence of the diesel scandal, a new corporate culture in the automotive group. “I want people with a hundred percent transparency,” said Schot of the “süddeutsche Zeitung” (Monday edition). “There’s not enough for me, that is true, what the people say. I want people to say everything is true.“ Mistakes should be openly discussed.
Sheet guides Audi since the temporary arrest of his predecessor, Rupert Stadler in June as an interim chief. About two weeks ago, the Audi Supervisory Board appointed the 57-year-old Dutchman to 1. January, 2019 at a regular Executive Board Chairman. Schot is a member of the Board of Directors of the parent company Volkswagen is also.
In the “SZ”Interview, Schot said, and he saw himself as a “transformational CEO,” the need to rebuild the group. In the case of Audi, it had gone 25 years continuously upward. “This has made a lot of spoiled and a bit sluggish,” explained the new company’s chief Executive. The employees would now need to understand, “that we have a serious common task”.
Threatened with job cuts
Indirectly Schot warned of possible job cuts, if nothing change. If he can see the current Output of 90,000 people, he would say that there were too many workers at Audi, said Sheet. “Now you can think of to work with less people. Or with the same people and more Output.“ He wanted the Latter and know at the same time, that he needed to align the company’s strategy clear. “We are doing too much,” said Schot.
