WEY CEO leaves Great Wall Motor for family reason

Shanghai (Gasgoo)- Chinese automaker Great Wall Motor (GWM) confirmed that Jens Steingraeber, CEO of WEY brand, has resigned from the company for taking care of his ailing family member and will no longer hold any position in GWM.

Liu Yan, current vice president for WEY brand, is likely to take over Steingraeber's position as CEO of WEY, according to insiders with the knowledge of this matter. However, this is just a conjecture since the formal appointment has not come out yet.

Liu Yan, former senior executive of FAW-VW Audi and Volvo, was appointed vice president and general manager of marketing for WEY brand earlier last month to take charge of the businesses of marketing, sales, channel, and aftersales service for WEY brand.

As a veteran in auto industry with nearly 20-year experience in luxury automakers, Liu Yan had served as director of marketing department and sales department of FAW-VW Audi, and also vice general manager of FAW-VW Audi's sales division during 1999 and 2012. From 2012 to 2016, Liu Yan acted as executive vice president and COO at Volvo Cars (China) Sales Company. 

A group of sales directors had leaved their former employers for GWM. In June, Wen Fei, former strategic commission director and public relation director of Infiniti, was named as vice general manager of Great Wall Motor Sales Company, taking charge of Haval F series products. In July, Ning Shuyong, former general executive vice president of market and communication of Qoros, joined GWM to act the role of the group's vice president. Ning Shuyong not only takes the post of GWM's vice president, but also is responsible for GWM's new energy vehicle (NEV) and pickup divisions, with duties including sales, channels, and brands as well as market communication.