Skoda UK director Robert Hazelwood has been appointed as the new director of Volkswagen passenger cars.

Hazelwood will move into the role on May 1 and takes over from Chris Craft who will move to become managing director of Porsche Cars Great Britain on April 1.

Hazelwood joined the Volkswagen Group in November 2005 as head of group synergies, before assuming the role of director of Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles UK in May 2006.

After two years with commercial vehicles, he moved to his current position at Škoda.

Before joining the Volkswagen Group, he worked for eight years at the Inchcape Group where he held a number of roles including that of managing director of Inchcape Retail, Mazda France and Maranello Concessionaires.

Simon Thomas, managing director of Volkswagen Group UK, said: “Robert has made a tremendous contribution to the business of the Volkswagen Group in the UK since he joined the company over six years ago.

“He has been an extremely effective director in Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles and then at Škoda.
“I’m sure he will relish the challenge of taking the helm at Volkswagen Passenger Cars.”