VW picks Browning to head U.S. operations, reports say

Volkswagen has picked former General Motors and Ford manager Jonathan Browning to head its U.S. operations, reports said Sunday.

Browning, 51, would succeed Stefan Jacoby, who left Volkswagen of America in June and last month became CEO of Volvo Cars.

VW said in a statement Sunday afternoon that it will announce its new CEO Monday at an 11 a.m. Eastern press conference at the National Press Club in Washington.

The Wall Street Journal reported Browning's appointment, citing sources familiar with the plan. Reuters also reported the move, citing an unnamed company source. Volkswagen spokeswoman Jill Bratina declined comment.

COO Mark Barnes has been Jacoby's interim replacement for the Volkswagen brand, while Michael Lohscheller has steered Volkswagen Group of America

Browning joined VW in June as head of the 10-brand group's national sales companies.

He resigned as head of GM's global sales, service and marketing in the summer of 2009 and left the company in October “to pursue other interests," GM said at the time.

He was also chairman of GM-owned Vauxhall Motors Ltd. and vice president of sales, marketing and aftersales for GM Europe.

While he headed European sales, GM launched its Chevrolet brand across the continent.

Browning, an Englishman, joined GM in 1981, working for Vauxhall, and later became managing director of GM Turkey. From 1997 to 2001, he was Ford Motor Co.'s head of European marketing and then managing director of Jaguar Cars Ltd.

By Automotive News