Volkswagen Group Australia announced that Paul Sansom will become the company's managing director as of 1 January, 2022. Currently managing director of Audi Australia and chairman of the Audi Foundation, Sansom succeeds Michael Bartsch, who shortly returns to Volkswagen of America.
From January 1, Volkswagen Group Australia will also include Audi Australia, which Sansom has helmed since 2017. Combined, the Volkswagen Group Australia national sales company will have more than 180 dealers nationwide.
Sansom's automotive career commenced in 2001 as Jaguar's national sales manager in the UK. He joined the Volkswagen Group in 2003, first as a regional brand manager for Volkswagen, then VW's product and planning manager. In 2006, he moved across to Audi where he held the role of after sales and customer service director, before becoming the sales director. Audi became the UK's best-selling premium brand in that period.