Volkswagen Group CEO Oliver Blume will join the supervisory board of VfL Wolfsburg effective January 1. The Bundesliga club announced this. Meanwhile, the preferred sports director has declined the position.

VfL Wolfsburg Fußball GmbH is wholly owned by the automotive group. The Bundesliga club’s supervisory board has also always been dominated by leading VW executives. However, the fact that the CEO of Volkswagen AG is joining this body is a first.

Volkswagen Group CEO Oliver Blume will join the supervisory board of VfL Wolfsburg on January 1

“This is a significant step that further strengthens the close ties between the Group and the club—a great signal,” said Sebastian Rudolph. The chairman of VfL’s supervisory board serves as head of corporate communications at Volkswagen in his primary role.

Blume, 57, says he is looking forward to “being part of the green-and-white family.” VfL has close ties to Volkswagen, the city of Wolfsburg, and the region. The club makes an important contribution to the local community—in sports, socially, and in youth development,” he said.

In the Bundesliga, Wolfsburg currently sits in 15th place. Amid the club’s sporting crisis, the supervisory board is currently searching for a new sporting director to succeed Sebastian Schindzielorz, who was relieved of his duties.

According to information from “Kicker,” following the failed attempt to sign their top choice, Andreas Schicker of 1899 Hoffenheim, VfL has now also been turned down by Hannover 96’s sporting director, Marcus Mann.

Instead, the 41-year-old aims to lead the second-division club back to the top flight.

Mann has been working in Hannover since 2021 and was promoted this year from sports director to sporting director. His contract runs through 2029. Before this season, he completely overhauled the 96ers’ roster. The Lower Saxony-based club is currently fourth in the Second Division standings.

It remains to be seen who the struggling “Wolves” will name as their new sporting director.