Leet to lead Volkswagen NZ, will focus on EVs

Skoda general manager Greg Leet is returning to the brand he began his wholesale career with – having been appointed general manager of Volkswagen New Zealand.

Current gm Tom Ruddenklau is leaving European Motor Distributors and is understood to be joining tourism success story Jucy.

A new boss for the Skoda brand yes yet to be announced, though Leet suggested an internal appointment would be confirmed soon.

He says it is sad to leave the brand he has run for the last five years.

“It is a hell of a sad thing. What we have achieved with Skoda over the years has been phenomenal,” Leet says.

He is excited by the challenge, however.

“The opportunity that Volkswagen has is as an aspirational player in the New Zealand market. What is particularly exciting is it is very much a family brand, and the current promotion out there in the market speaks to that.”

Leet was excited about the electric products coming to the Skoda brand, but now has an even broader electrified product range to handle.

One of his first jobs is heading to Germany to check out coming electrified products, before heading to the Frankfurt Motor Show.

“I understand the Frankfurt show for the Volkswagen brand will only have cars that have a plug attached to them.”

While it currently offers the eGolf, Leet is keen to get more plug-in products on the road.

Leet began his automotive career with Volkswagen Group brands in 1994 with Gary Keith Motors in Hamilton. He then moved to EMD working for Volkswagen, before a four-year stint as national sales manager of Audi, then on to Volkswagen.

“I have always felt akin to Volkswagen – it has been a part of my life for years, ever since I have been in the industry,” Leet says.

Leet could not speak more highly of Ruddenklau, who he says has left Volkswagen in great shape.

“I have worked with Tom for the last eight years. I think his legacy be the real shift to customer focus for the brand.”