Frank Witter will take over as with immediate effect. At a meeting on Monday evening the 58-year-old financial director of Volkswagen AG was elected to succeed Dr. Francisco Javier Garcia Sanz, who had been on the board since 2004 and had held the role of chairman since 2009. Hans-Gerd Bode, a member of the supervisory board since January 2016, has also left his post. Witter, who has been part of the Volkswagen group since 1992, will form part of the executive committee alongside Hans Dieter Pötsch and Bernd Osterloh.
'I'm happy to actively take on responsibility'
"I've followed VfL Wolfsburg's development for a long time and I'm happy to be able to actively take on responsibility for the club," said Witter, a former footballer himself who scored one goal in 76 appearances for OSV Hannover in the northern second division between 1979 and 1981. "In collaboration with the management board and the sporting directors, the supervisory board will tackle the big challenges we've got ahead of us. I would like to expressly thank my predecessor, Dr. Francisco Javier Garcia Sanz, as well as Hans-Gerd Bode for serving for almost two and a half years."
Recognition for Dr. Garcia Sanz and Mr. Bode
"We're delighted that Frank Witter indicated that he was willing to take on the responsibility of this task and we're certain that together we'll get VfL Wolfsburg back on track," said Wolfgang Hotze, spokesman for the management board. "On behalf of VfL Wolfsburg, but also personally, Tim Schumacher and I would like to thank Dr. Garcia Sanz for his many years of service and dedication. He has made an outstanding contribution to VfL Wolfsburg." The management board also expressed their gratitude to Mr. Bode for his service as a member of the supervising board committee.
"We're very happy that we've been able to oversee a seamless transition together," said Dr. Schumacher. "I'm looking forward to working with Frank Witter and we'll address a lot of issues together. Nevertheless, our focus at present continues to be on ensuring our Bundesliga survival."
