CEO of GM’s Opel division steps down ahead of sale to Peugeot
by David McHugh, The Associated Press
Karl-Thomas Neumann is leaving his post as CEO immediately. He will remain a member of Opel management until the sale to PSA Group goes through
(from left): Stephen J. Girsky, Chairman of the Supervisory Board, Adam Opel AG, Daniel F. Akerson, GM Chairman & CEO and Dr. Karl-Thomas Neumann, Chairman of the Adam Opel AG Management Board, GM Europe President and GM Vice President in front of the Opel RAK 2 Rocket Car. PHOTO: Adam Opel AG:
Adam Opel GmbH said in a statement that Karl-Thomas Neumann is leaving his post as CEO immediately. He will remain a member of top Opel management until the sale to PSA Group goes through.
Neumann was replaced by chief financial officer Michael Lohscheller.
The company said Lohscheller’s appointment would “ensure continuity” and a “seamless managerial transition” as Opel builds a new strategic plan for its future under PSA Group ownership.
General Motors announced in March it would unload Opel and its Vauxhall brand for $2.3 billion after losing money in Europe for years. The deal will make PSA, which makes Peugeot and Citroen cars, the No. 2 European automaker after Volkswagen.
“It was a difficult personal decision not to continue with the Opel/Vauxhall team when it transitions to Groupe PSA,” Neumann said in the company statement. “I am committed to completing this transaction and will then take some time to decide what is next for me.”
German weekly Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung reported on Saturday that Neumann was leaving.
