Xavier Chardon has been appointed head of marketing at Volkswagen Passenger Cars, succeeding Simon Thomas who is leaving the company.

Chardon was previously the brand's head of sales for Europe, and had spent 17 years with Citroen in various senior posts prior to that.

Dr Wolf-Stefan Specht takes Chardon's old post.

Both will report to Christian Klingler, Volkswagen Group board member for sales and marketing.