Skoda Auto changes board: Martina Biene joins as Martin Jahn departs
Skoda Auto is reshuffling its board of management, bringing in Volkswagen Group Africa boss Martina Biene as sales chief Martin Jahn leaves after 20 years.
- 20 years
- 2001
- 2021
- 2022
What Happened
Skoda Auto has announced changes to its Board of Management. Martin Jahn, Board Member for Sales and Marketing since March 2021, is leaving the company after 20 years with the Volkswagen Group. Martina Biene, Chair and Managing Director of Volkswagen Group Africa since September 2022, will join Skoda Auto. CEO Klaus Zellmer thanked Jahn and welcomed Biene.
“Over the course of his tenure, Martin Jahn has made an outstanding contribution to Škoda Auto’s development and success. Under his leadership, we managed to become the second best-selling brand in Europe, successfully introduced our battery electric models, built an even more customer-centric sales organization with our Škoda typical human touch, introduced a new corporate identity that reflects our ambitions, and increased our brand value. On behalf of the entire company, I would like to thank Martin for his dedication, leadership and commitment to our customers, partners and colleagues. At the same time, I am delighted to welcome Martina Biene to Škoda Auto. Her pragmatic, customer-focused approach and valuable international experience will help us further strengthen Škoda’s growing international footprint and continue our successful development in global markets.”
Martina Biene joined Volkswagen in 2001. Within the group, her roles have included positions in strategy and sales of premium vehicles, Area Sales Manager for Belgium and Luxembourg, Head of Product Planning for Germany, Head of Global Product Marketing, and Head of the Volkswagen Brand in South Africa. In August 2020, she was appointed Head of the Volkswagen Small and Compact Product Line. Since September 2022, she has served as Chair and Managing Director of Volkswagen Group Africa.
- 1994–2006: Started at CzechInvest, the Czech government agency for foreign investment, became its CEO in 2000 after heading US operations in Chicago, then served as Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs from 2004 to 2006.
- 2006: Joined Škoda Auto in Mladá Boleslav as Board Member for Human Resources.
- 2008: Appointed Managing Director of Volkswagen Group Rus in Moscow, responsible for Group Sales.
- 2010: Became Managing Director of Volkswagen Group's international fleet business in Wolfsburg, responsible for global Group sales.
- 2016: Worked in China as Executive Vice President for Sales and Marketing and Managing Director of the Volkswagen brand at FAW-VW.
- March 2021: Rejoined Škoda Auto as Board Member for Sales and Marketing.
Why this matters
Leadership changes at a major automaker influence its global sales strategy. CEO Klaus Zellmer credits outgoing Martin Jahn with helping Skoda become Europe's second best-selling brand, launching its battery-electric models, and increasing brand value. He says incoming Martina Biene's international experience and customer-focused approach will help strengthen Skoda's footprint in global markets, which affects how the brand's products and sales are shaped for buyers worldwide.
Terms in This Story
- Board of Management
- The executive leadership team of a company, similar to a board of directors, responsible for running daily operations and setting strategy.
- Managing Director
- A senior executive responsible for overseeing a company or business unit, often with profit-and-loss responsibility.
Summarised from the linked release; details can be imperfect — always verify against the original source.