Martin Winterkorn: The Lion, Hall 2 – Times Online

Resolved and relaxed: Martin Winterkorn enjoys his appearance at the annual general meeting of VW. Maybe also because his opponent did not show up.

May 5, 2015 16:45 clock

Martin Winterkorn at the AGM of Volkswagen in Hanover | © Fabian Bimmer / Reuters

In the morning, before the Annual General Meeting of Volkswagen AG Martin Winterkorn may consider his empire in a room. As in a cathedral of the exhibition will be presented in Hannover the latest models of Audi and Bugatti, Lamborghini and Škoda, MAN and VW in Hall 2. Winterkorn, dark suit, white shirt, striped tie, laughs a lot. He has fun at the ritual in which makes the CEO before the big meeting of shareholders once the round of the now 12 brands. Winterkorn, engineering, then happy to talk shop about the technical details and chats with the directors about their brand new models. VW commercial vehicles chief Andreas Renschler he can show an impressive truck. A few meters further opens the VW boss the hood of a white electric Golf and nods approvingly. At the booth of the Porsche brand chief Matthias Müller and a petite woman in dark pantsuit it receives said “Good morning, Professor.”

So everything just business as usual ? Superficially looks that way. But the professor would conduct the tour today, hardly anyone could have thought a few weeks ago. Because has built this empire Ferdinand Piëch, the grandson of the founder Ferdinand Porsche and many years of Patriarch of the VW group. With every car door that opens Winterkorn, he inspected every other model here in Hannover, he touched the legacy of the man who had once considered him as his protégé. And then a few weeks ago public confidence eluded him. When Porsche grandson this management style has a longer tradition. With a few specific remarks he sat already other experienced managers to the door. He had distanced himself Winterkorn, Piëch told the levels . And his fate seemed sealed.

But this time had no backing in Piëch Supervisory Board. Bernd Osterloh as employee representatives and Berthold Huber and Lower Saxony Prime Minister Stephan Weil were satisfied with Winterkorn, Piëch’s cousin Wolfgang Porsche like. In a meeting of the presidential They agreed to continue to support Winterkorn, chairman Piëch moved superficially with. Behind the scenes, however, he was working on to a detachment. In a telephone conversation he said Porsche CEO Müller, he should stand ready to inherit Winterkorn. That was too much for the other supervisors. This time there was no amicable settlement. Piëch and his wife Ursula left the Board of his nieces Louise Kiessling (57) and Julia Kuhn-Piëch (34) sit on Tuesday in their place on the podium in Hannover. A shareholder representative welcomed the two there with the words: “You have big footsteps.”

Real News, hardly anyone expected for the general meeting. The reporting on implementation of the merger of MAN and Scania truck brands in a Holding was the biggest news. Curious was mainly expected a Martin Winterkorn. As it presents itself? Is he weakened? Is it easier? Frustrated? So much can be said: He seems to have coped well with confrontation. In his speech to the Annual General Meeting resolved it acts. He is the undisputed king. But triumphalism and victory poses, there are none. But the respect for Piech is too large. The group and he himself had much to thank Piëch. “The remains,” said Winterkorn.

The fact that he also remains until further notice, which is the head of VW apparently safe. This is due to the support from the shareholders. “Their performance in recent years has been quite excellent. They have written a success story,” says a representative of the protective association of investors (SDK). And also the support of the Supervisory Board Winterkorn can be sure. In his entourage running in Hannover with Lower Saxony’s Prime Minister Stephan Weil (SPD), who strengthened his back during the difficult time. “The last few weeks have been turbulent,” the politician said after the tour. He is relieved that at least a little peace has returned the most important employer of his state. The second constant companion on winter grain side is Wolfgang Porsche, Ferdinand Piëch’s cousin, who also opposed the former leader of the pack of the family.