Volvo Cars Names Skoda Chief Klaus Zellmer As Its Next President And CEO
The board of Volvo Cars has appointed Klaus Zellmer, chief executive of Škoda Auto, as its next president and CEO. He will take up the role no later than 1 October 2027, succeeding Håkan Samuelsson.
- Role: president and CEO, Volvo Cars
- Start: no later than 1 October 2027
- Succeeds: Håkan Samuelsson, CEO from 2012 to 2022 and again since April 2025
- Currently: chairman of the board of management and CEO, Škoda Auto
- Before that: board member for marketing, sales and after-sales, Volkswagen Passenger Cars
- Earlier: more than 20 years at Porsche, including CEO of Porsche Deutschland and Porsche North America
Who Klaus Zellmer Is
A sales and marketing executive who has run both ends of the car market. Born in 1967, he has more than 30 years in the industry. He spent two decades at Porsche, then joined the Volkswagen brand's management board with responsibility for marketing, sales and after-sales, before taking charge of Škoda. Volvo says Škoda reported record results in 2025 and record electric-car deliveries in the first half of 2026 under his leadership.
Why Volvo Chose Him
Eric Li, chairman of Volvo Cars, said Zellmer combines deep automotive expertise with broad international leadership experience and a strong record of guiding organisations through transformation and changing market conditions. Li also pointed to his experience in both the high-end premium segment and high-volume brands.
Zellmer said he was delighted to join at an important moment in the company's development, and noted that few car brands have built such a strong and lasting reputation for safety.
A Year-Long Handover
Naming a successor this far ahead is uncommon, and it reflects where Volvo is. Samuelsson returned in April 2025 as a stabilising pair of hands during a difficult period for the industry, and will work with the board on the transition. The long runway gives Volvo continuity while it hires someone who is still running another brand.
For marketers, the choice is telling. Volvo's brand rests on safety and design, and it is picking a leader whose career has been built on selling cars rather than engineering them, at a time when premium brands are fighting to hold price and position in electric vehicles.
Volvo Cars announced the appointment in its release. More people.