Skoda Auto’s Leadership Shakeup Continues

The head of the Škoda Auto Czech Republic, Luboš Vlček, is stepping down in September. He will be replaced by the current head of sales on the Czech market, Jiří Maláček. Vlček will remain with Škoda and be responsible for the Škoda brand’s activities in Western Europe.

Vlček has been with Škoda Auto and the Volkswagen Group since 1992. He became head of the Czech representation of the Škoda brand in January 2014 after several years at Volkswagen Group China.

Maláček came to Škoda in January. “The new position is a big challenge for me. I am glad to be part of the success story of the domestic brand,” he said.

The carmaker declined to comment on whether it is normal for a newcomer to Škoda to land such a prominent position, or whether Maláček stood out from other potential candidates.

Vlček’s resignation is not the only significant personnel change at Škoda Auto recently. At the beginning of July, the carmaker announced the chairman of the board, Bernhard Maier’s resignation. The company’s board of directors will elect his successor in August.

The company announced Maier’s end of office a week ago without justification. According to the German newspaper Handelsblatt, power disputes in the Volkswagen Group are in the background. For a long time, it has been reported that Volkswagen is bothered by the success of Škoda, whose models compete with other cars of the group. The chairman of the corporate council, Jaroslav Povšík, has previously stated that Volkswagen Škoda envies the success. There were media reports that Škoda is outperforming Audi, which is not good for the group.