Toronto, Ontario — Pierre Boutin, the current head of Volkswagen France, will begin leading the automaker’s Canadian operations in 2020, VW Group Canada announced Nov. 11.
Boutin holds Canadian citizenship and has previously served as the head of VW Russia. He will succeed current CEO Daniel Weissland, who was named the president of Audi of America on Sept. 1 after serving as VW Canada’s head for less than two years.
“It is a tremendous opportunity to be coming back home to lead the transformation of our company with such a talented and dedicated team,” Boutin said in a statement. “The Canadian automotive landscape is rapidly changing, and the Volkswagen Group is looking to play a bigger part.”
In his new role, Boutin will join the automaker as it adapts to the declining new-vehicle market and the consumer shift away from sedan models—which once dominated VW’s lineup.
Boutin has led VW’s French operations since late 2017 and reportedly led the organization to its best French performance in seven years. He also contributed to the brand’s Russian operations during a three-year stint as its head.
Boutin also holds a bachelor’s degree with a marketing specialization from Universite Laval in Quebec City, Que.
