Dubai – Deesch Papke has been appointed as Group Managing Director of the wholly owned subsidiary importer organisation, Audi Volkswagen Middle East FZE.
With over ten years success as CEO of Porsche Middle East and Africa FZE, South African-born Papke, oversaw a period of exponential growth for the organisation. His career at Porsche AG also included achievements as MD for Porsche China and as the Regional Head of Overseas and Emerging Markets with Porsche AG in Germany. Papke succeeds Benoit Tiers, who moves to AUDI AG in Ingolstadt, where he will be responsible for Western European markets at the company headquarters.
As Group Managing Director, operating from the AVME regional office in Dubai, Deesch Papke will be responsible for driving the growth across 11 countries in the GCC and Levant for the Audi and Volkswagen brands. Key to this will be ensuring professionalism and brand standards are maintained across the regional network, focusing on market penetration and enhancing existing facilities.
Deesch Papke, Group Managing Director of AVME, said: “I am taking over the responsibility of AVME at an exciting time. Despite the challenging regional economy, both Audi and VW have a strong portfolio of new models to bring to the market over the next few years. I am looking forward to a period of growth and opportunity upon which we can further develop our business. We have excellent business partners to work with in our region and I look forward to utilising my experience, in the Middle East, Germany and China, to continue to build the reputations of both brands in the region.”
Starting his career in management roles for Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Land Rover as well as for Volvo in South Africa and Russia, Deesch Papke acquired many years of multi-market and brand experience within the global automotive sector. His first role in the Middle East region came in 2005 with Porsche as Managing Director of the Middle East and Africa subsidiary, where Papke oversaw the extensive development of the regional operation.
Deesch Papke’s move to Audi Volkswagen Middle East organisation will see him operate from the regional headquarters of the subsidiary in Dubai Airport
Free Zone. His role will be to lead a team of over 100 professionals representing the Audi and Volkswagen brands and to support growth of the Volkswagen Group across 11 countries, 12 importers and 52 dealer facilities in the GCC and Levant.
In addition to his mother tongue English, he is fluent in Afrikaans and German. In his leisure time, the German national enjoys watching and participating in sports. Deesch Papke is married with 2 children.
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About the Audi brand
The Audi Group, with its brands Audi, Ducati and Lamborghini, is one of the most successful manufacturers of automobiles and motorcycles in the premium segment. It is present in more than 100 markets worldwide and produces at 16 locations in twelve countries. 100 percent subsidiaries of AUDI AG include Audi Sport GmbH (Neckarsulm), Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A. (Sant’Agata Bolognese, Italy) and Ducati Motor Holding S.p.A. (Bologna, Italy).
In 2017, the Audi Group delivered to customers about 1.878 million automobiles of the Audi brand, 3,815 sports cars of the Lamborghini brand and 55,900 motorcycles of the Ducati brand. In the 2017 fiscal year, AUDI AG achieved total revenue of €60.1 billion and an operating profit of €5.1 billion. At present, approximately 90,000 people work for the company all over the world, more than 60,000 of them in Germany. Audi focuses on sustainable products and technologies for the future of mobility.
AUDI AG’s commitment to the region was confirmed through the foundation of its fully owned subsidiary in 2005. The current Middle East model range comprises the Audi A3 & S3, A4 and S4, the A5/S5 Coupe Sportback and Cabriolet and RS 5 Coupe and Sportback, the A6, A7, A8, A8 L, the Audi Q3, Q5 & SQ5, Q7 and Q8, the Audi R8 Coupe, R8 Coupe V10 plus as well as the R8 V10 Spyder.
About the Volkswagen brand: “We make the future real”
The Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand is present in over 150 markets and produces vehicles at more than 50 locations in 14 countries. Volkswagen manufactured over 6 million vehicles in 2017, including bestsellers such as the Golf, Tiguan, Jetta or Passat. The company has a current workforce of 198,000 employees around the globe. Added to this are more than 7,700 dealers with 74,000 employees. Volkswagen consistently pursues the enhancement of automotive construction. Electric mobility, smart mobility and the digital transformation of the brand are the key strategic topics for the future.
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