Awards & Recognition
★Motor Trend Power List 2007 and 2008
★Honorary Professor at Budapest University of Technology and Economics (2003)
★Highest paid CEO on Germany's DAX stock market (2014)
Notable Facts
→Former CEO of Volkswagen Group (2007-2015) - Europe's largest automaker
→Led ambitious 'Strategie 2018' to make VW world's largest automaker
→Resigned during Dieselgate emissions scandal in September 2015
→Indicted in US (2018) and Germany (2019) on fraud charges - remains fugitive in US
→Currently on trial in Germany (2024-2025) facing up to 10 years imprisonment
→Paid €11 million settlement to Volkswagen in 2021
→Former board member of Bayern München football club (2003-2018)
→Presided over scandal affecting 11 million vehicles worldwide costing VW $39+ billion