8 Out Of 9 VW Board Members Are White Men - Should VW Start There To Show A True Transformation?

During the Volkswagen Group’s annual press conference to discuss the past year’s financial performances, CEO Matthias Müller outlined a series of ways in which the company is going to transform itself in the coming years.

Perhaps aware that eight out of nine board members on the podium either side of him were - like him - middle to late-aged men in suits, and predominantly German, he issued this rallying call: “Put in simple terms, Volkswagen must become more international, more entrepreneurial, and more female - especially at the management level.”

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TomM - 3/20/2017 12:12:16 PM

+4 Boost

The holding company (Porsche SE) that owns controlling interest in VW - over 52% in actuality - is owned by the Porsche and Piech Families - they are GERMAN, they are white and the stock is controlled by a group of men in the family - with various shares. Just as the Ford Family - although through a different stock scheme - controls the board of FORD - this Holding company does that for VW.

The fact is - there is nothing inherently wrong with this situation - and there is no proof that adding a female family member would alter their decisions in any way. IN addition - other large holders of VW stock include The county of Lower Saxony - as well as Qatar. Lower Saxony - being part of Germany itself - would probably not change the makeup of the board regarding country of origin - and certainly an Islamic country such as Qatar - where women do not have the same rights as men - is unlikely to change the Gender of the board. Ownership does have its privileges.

Agent009 - 3/20/2017 12:34:35 PM

0 Boost

This can also be said of a number of Asian companies as well. Only within the last 5 to 10 years has Toyota started to diversify.

It can be agued that such a tight core of German leadership actually keeps the brand focused on heritage and Germanic appeal that might get lost with a global board.

TheSteve - 3/20/2017 1:17:08 PM

+4 Boost

VW's problems don't stem from being run predominantly my men, or white men, or even middle-aged (or older) white men from Germany. It's that they share a mindset that created a corporate climate of rule my decree and fear. They value profit over ethics and human health, disregard law and honesty, and lack what some people refer to as "basic human decency." Becoming "more international" won't fix that.

MDarringer - 3/20/2017 7:44:38 PM

+3 Boost

This post is racist and sexist.

The implication is that white is undesirable and that racial tokenism is better.

The implication is that male gender is undesirable and that female tokenism is better.

qwertyfla - 3/21/2017 7:56:03 PM

+5 Boost

Load your board with the most talented people regardless of sex, age, ethnicity etc. Enough of all this PC bullshit disease already.