In a significant reshuffle within the Volkswagen Group, effective from October 1, 2024, key leadership positions in the finance and IT departments will experience a strategic shift. Patrik Andreas Mayer will step into the role of Executive Vice-President for Finance and IT at SEAT S.A., succeeding David Powels, who will assume Mayer’s previous position as Chief Financial Officer of the Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand. These transitions signal a continued commitment to the financial discipline and transformative strategies both SEAT S.A. and Volkswagen have fostered in recent years.
Thomas Schäfer, Member of the Board of Management of Volkswagen AG, Brand Group Core & CEO Volkswagen Brand, highlighted the importance of this leadership change, noting, “In these times, the finance department is undoubtedly of great importance. As CFO of the Volkswagen brand, Patrik Mayer has made a significant contribution to the structured and successful launch of the performance program. David Powel will build on this. And at the same time—under even more difficult conditions—provide impetus for competitive costs and structures.”
David Powels has been instrumental in SEAT S.A.’s resurgence to profitability, a critical achievement that solidified his reputation as a skilled financial leader. Wayne Griffiths, CEO of SEAT and CUPRA, praised Powels’ work, stating, “David’s contribution has been crucial to the transformation of our company and has helped us achieve our best financial results to date.” He expressed confidence that Powels will continue to play a vital role as he transitions to Volkswagen’s Board and helps implement SEAT and CUPRA’s ambitious strategy.
For SEAT S.A., the appointment of Patrik Mayer represents a deliberate effort to maintain momentum towards sustainable profitability. Griffiths welcomed Mayer’s arrival with optimism, remarking, “It is essential to have experienced and qualified leaders like Patrik Mayer on board. We are very pleased to welcome him to SEAT and CUPRA.”
Mayer brings with him a wealth of experience from a distinguished career within the Volkswagen Group. A native of Heilbronn, Germany, Mayer graduated with degrees in mechanical and industrial engineering from the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Coventry University, and the École Nationale Supérieure d’Arts et Métiers in Paris. His academic credentials are complemented by an MBA from Henley Management College in the UK.
Having joined Volkswagen in 1997, Mayer’s early career saw him serve in a variety of key roles, including Head of Investment Controlling for the Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand and Director of Finance at Volkswagen Navarra. Mayer’s international experience expanded further when he was appointed Executive Vice President for Finance and IT at Volkswagen Group of America in Chattanooga.
Mayer’s leadership abilities were further honed during his time overseeing the Controlling department at Volkswagen’s components plant in Kassel, and later as Chief Financial Officer on the Board of Volkswagen Group Russia. Most recently, since October 2022, Mayer has served as a member of the Volkswagen brand Board of Management with responsibility for Finance.
David Powels, who takes over Mayer’s previous role at Volkswagen, is no stranger to leadership in global automotive finance. A Chartered Accountant with a degree in Commerce from Nelson Mandela University and a postgraduate qualification from the University of Cape Town, Powels began his Volkswagen career in 1989 at Volkswagen South Africa. He later held CEO positions in both South Africa and Brazil, overseeing Volkswagen’s operations across key markets. Powels’ influence extended to China, where he served as First Vice-President and Executive Vice-President for Commercial at SAIC Volkswagen Automotive Co. before assuming his role at SEAT S.A. in 2021.
As these leadership changes take effect, both SEAT S.A. and Volkswagen stand poised to benefit from the deep expertise and strategic vision of these seasoned executives. This transition signals a continued focus on leveraging synergies within the Volkswagen Brand Group Core to drive competitive costs, innovation, and sustainable growth in the years ahead.
