Volkswagen UK announce appointment of new Director

Volkswagen UK have announced the appointment of Rod McLeod as its new Director. He will start in the role from 2 January 2022.

McLeod joined the Volkswagen brand in 1996, and worked across a variety of disciplines, including the roles of Head of Marketing and Head of Sales Operations.

He will re-join the Volkswagen Brand after four years as Director of ŠKODA UK. At ŠKODA, McLeod’s team delivered significant improvements across the business, including achieving record market share levels.

He succeeds Andrew Savvas in the Volkswagen UK Director role. Savvas moves to Volkswagen in North America in a new role of Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing, Volkswagen Brand, and Chief Sales and Marketing Officer, North American Region.

Commenting on his new appointment, McLeod said: “Volkswagen has transformed itself in recent years into the leading volume brand for e-mobility, digitalisation and sustainability.

“Its award-winning electric cars the ID.3 and ID.4 are spearheading an exciting and transformative shift in the automotive landscape, and I am really looking forward to working with the UK team as we accelerate that dramatic change still further. It is an incredibly exciting time to re-join the Volkswagen brand.”

Volkswagen Group UK Managing Director, Alex Smith, added: “Rod’s expertise and wide-ranging experience across the whole business will prove invaluable as Volkswagen takes the lead in the fields of electric vehicles, digital capability, carbon-neutrality and autonomous driving technology. I can think of nobody better to lead the brand during this dynamic and fast-paced time.

“I would like to thank Andrew for leading Volkswagen over the past three years. He has steered the brand with his trademark positive spirit through one of the most challenging periods this industry has yet witnessed. At the same time, he has overseen the introduction of the ID.3 and ID.4 – class-leading electric vehicles that have established Volkswagen on its way to zero carbon emissions in the UK.

“With Volkswagen already occupying the number one spot in the UK’s new passenger-car market year-to-date, Andrew can leave us proud of delivering exactly what he set out to achieve.”