De Nysschen will head Audi in U.S.(News)(Brief Article)

Automotive News, November, 2004 by Kisiel, Ralph

Byline: Ralph Kisiel

The president of Audi Japan will succeed Axel Mees as head of Audi of America Inc. Mees was fired last week for making critical remarks about Volkswagen's luxury Phaeton sedan and former VW AG Chairman Ferdinand Piech. Johan de Nysschen, president of Audi Japan, will replace Mees, sources said. An announcement is expected as early as today, Nov. 22.

De Nysschen, 44, already was scheduled to become COO of Audi of America on Jan. 1. He will be responsible for reversing this year's sales slide in the United States. Sales fell nearly 10 percent in the United States through October.

Mees, a former BMW executive, had been in the job only since March 1. An Audi AG spokesman said Mees was dismissed because he had no plan in...

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