Oliver Blume, 57, will step down as Chief Executive Officer of Porsche AG at the end of this year, with Dr. Michael Leiters named his successor effective 1 January 2026. The move ends Blume’s dual leadership role as CEO of both Porsche and its parent company, Volkswagen Group.
Key Details
- Blume has held the position of CEO of Porsche for ten years, since 2015.
- He assumed the additional role of CEO of Volkswagen Group in September 2022, combining both roles until the change.
- Beginning 1 January 2026, Michael Leiters—former CEO of McLaren Automotive (2022-2025) and ex-CTO of Ferrari—will lead Porsche. He also previously worked at Porsche between 2000 and 2013.
Why the Change
Multiple factors paved the way for this leadership shift:
- Investor pressure grew over concerns that one person holding both top roles may split focus and blur governance between Volkswagen Group and Porsche.
- Porsche has faced several market challenges: weakening demand in China, changes in electric vehicle strategy, and tariff pressures among them.
- Porsche’s restructuring efforts this year included realigning its product strategy, offering greater drivetrain flexibility (combustion, hybrid, and EV), and adjusting its cost structure to better meet market conditions.
What’s Next
- Blume will continue in his role as CEO of Volkswagen Group through 2025 and into the start of 2026, with a contract extension confirmed through 2030 for the group role.
- Leiters will take over full responsibilities at Porsche AG as CEO on 1 January 2026. He inherits a company navigating between its luxury heritage and evolving automotive technology expectations.
- The supervisory board of Porsche AG expressed appreciation for Blume’s leadership, notably during Porsche’s IPO in 2022, international expansion, and motorsport successes. Blume emphasized that the company is now “robustly positioned for the future.”
Oliver Blume’s departure marks a strategic handover at a critical moment for Porsche: with changing markets, evolving regulation, and a balancing act between tradition and innovation. With Leiters taking the reins, Porsche aims to refocus leadership at the luxury marque, while Blume concentrates on leading Volkswagen’s broader transformation.
