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• Martina Biene will take up a new position at VW's headquarters in Germany.
• Biene joined VWSA as head of the Brand in 2018.
• Biene was a familiar face at VWSA events.
• For more motoring stories, go to www.Wheels24.co.za
On 1 October 2018, Martina Biene joined Volkswagen South Africa as the head of the Volkswagen Brand. From the off, the German made an impact at the automaker's local arm and quickly established herself as a leader the Group could look up to.
So immense was her impact that headquarters offered her a new position, reporting to the recently appointed VW Brand CEO, Ralf Brandstätter. Biene will take up the position of Head of G1 Baureihe (product management of A0 cars). She will begin her new job on 1 September.
"Martina is incredibly funny and she has embraced our South African culture like no one else. We'll miss her crazy sense of humour, her cool t-shirts, and that she was always up for a 'jol'. But, we'll find solace knowing she'll have SA's best interest at heart as she takes up her new role at the mothership in Germany."
VWSA says that during her tenure, Biene has embraced the South African culture and integrated into local society, which has enabled her to understand the local automotive market. In 2019, Volkswagen's market share in the passenger car market was a record 20.4%, the highest since 1996.
Glendinning concludes: "Martina's stewardship of the Volkswagen Brand during her relatively short tenure has been excellent. She has made a positive impact with regards to strategy development, especially on topics like digitalization, connectivity, and other future-orientated aspects of our business."
Martina Biene at her South African appointment on 1 October 2018 (MotorPress)
Compiled by: Charlen Raymond
