Wolfgang Bernhard to succeed Wilfried Porth as Head of the Vans unit

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As of April 2009, Dr. Wolfgang Bernhard (48) will assume worldwide responsibility for the Daimler Group?s Mercedes-Benz Vans unit. He will thus replace Wilfried Porth (50), who will take over from G?nther Fleig (60) as Member of the Board of Management for Human Resources and Labor Relations Director.
Bernhard previously held various leading positions at the Daimler Group and its predecessor companies during the period from 1994 to 2004, the last of which was member of the Board of Management of DaimlerChrysler AG.
Dr. Dieter Zetsche, Chairman of the Board of Management of Daimler AG and Head of Mercedes-Benz Cars: ?I am delighted that Wolfgang Bernhard is back on board at Daimler. I have valued his knowledge and experience since the time we spent together in the United States, and I?m glad we can continue our excellent collaboration.? In his new position, Bernhard will report directly to Dieter Zetsche, as did Wilfried Porth.
The Mercedes-Benz Vans unit produces nearly 288,000 vehicles each year with approximately 16,000 employees at nine different sites.

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According to a German magazine referenced by Automotive News, Wolfgang Bernhard is expected to be announced as the Chrysler Group's chairman-in-waiting, pending DaimlerChrysler's sale of the automaker to Cerberus Capital Management. Currently Bernhard is an acting advisor, a consultant if you will, for Cerberus, and spends his days at Chrysler's Auburn Hills headquarters, presumably gathering info for Cerberus on what aspects of the business need the German exec's magic touch the most. When the sale happens and Bernhard officially moves in, the speculation is that current CEO Tom LaSorda will remain in his position and likely report to Bernhard.

Bernhard was formerly VW's brand chief, and before that he worked for Chrysler immediately following the "merger of equals" that resulted in DaimlerChrysler. Other former Chrysler execs are also advising Cerberus at the moment according to Automotive News, including the company's well respected former design chief Tom Gale. Hopefully the news of Bernhard's official return, when it comes, will portend the return of other key Chrysler execs that can aid the company's turnaround efforts.

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This is the man who brought the world the Dodge Tomahawk and advised the three-headed dog in its acquisition of Chrysler from the Germans. Former Chrysler Chief Operating Officer Wolfgang Bernhard is apparently working in an advisory role to Magna International at is tries to find its way through the morass that is today's auto industry. Automotive News reports that Bernhard is currently focusing on Magna's Russian business. More than half of Magna's business is currently with U.S.-based automakers, which are going through a particularly hard time right now in case you hadn't noticed. Magna wants to increase its overseas sales and that's where Bernhard comes in. It's not known yet if Bernhard will take up a full-time spot with Magna, but we for one would like to see him back in the role of a major power player in the global auto industry.