New Delhi: Audi has taken the decision to create a dedicated position for Innovation and Software-Defined Vehicle (SDV) on the Board of Management. The Supervisory Board is emphasizing the coherent new direction of the organization and continuing to give software a central role. The focus will be on products and technologies, as well as on quality and innovation, the company said.
For this Geoffrey Bouquot will now become board member for Innovation and Software-Defined Vehicle, driving the transformation to a software-centered organization, the company said in a media release.
Geoffrey Bouquot said, “Audi for me represents precision and the future – engineering and digitalization. I am looking forward to my new role. I would like to do my part in initiating a positive upward trend together with the team at Audi and its ecosystem. Greater efficiency and the further development of digitalization are the paths that lead to this goal.”
Geoffrey Bouquot’s most recent position was group CTO & senior vice president of strategy at Valeo. In this role, he was responsible for corporate strategy, R&D, public affairs and sustainability, marketing, and innovation. Geoffrey Bouquot headed an R&D network of 20,000 engineers as well as 20 research and 40 development centers. He also set up the first specialized laboratory for autonomous vehicle AI in France. Before working for Valeo, he was technical advisor for industrial affairs in the cabinet of the French Minister of Defense.
“With the decision to create the new position at board level, we are strengthening the long-term technology and innovation strategy and focusing on the development of SDVs,” Manfred Döss, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of AUDI AG, said. “We are sure that Geoffrey Bouquot will provide major impulses to successfully implement the Audi Agenda together with the entire Board of Management team.”
The CEO of AUDI AG Gernot Döllner said, “Vorsprung durch Technik is our ambition, and innovation is the key to our fitness for the future. We need a thorough structural realignment to achieve a faster pace of development and a clear focus on software. By appointing Geoffrey Bouquot, we are living up to this aim. Geoffrey possesses a wealth of experience in leading and transforming large development and software teams. I am sure he will make a decisive contribution for Audi thanks to his combination of technological competence, ability to innovate, and international leadership qualities.”
