Johan de Nysschen is leaving his job as Volkswagen Group’s North American COO, saying he has “executed all the pieces I’ve got down to do right here.”

De Nysschen, 62, who beforehand labored for Audi, Infiniti and Cadillac, framed his departure from VW as a retirement from the auto business after a three-decade profession, indicating that he plans to remain at his new house in Tennessee and “actually chill out.”

“It is time for me to step apart and let others who’re greater than succesful to cleared the path,” de Nysschen stated in an interview with Wards Auto printed Thursday. “I’ve executed all the pieces I’ve got down to do right here, however you’re by no means actually ‘executed.’ There’s all the time the following factor in any job.”

A Volkswagen of America spokesman confirmed to Automotive Information that de Nysschen had voluntarily stepped down.

De Nysschen’s job, which the corporate created for him in 2019, will likely be eradicated as a part of a management restructuring, the spokesman stated.

De Nysschen stated he advised Volkswagen Group of America CEO Pablo Di Si of his plans to retire again in July, when Di Si succeeded Scott Keogh.

De Nysschen advised Wards he and his spouse intend to remain within the house they’re renovating in Chattanooga, Tenn., the place they moved final 12 months to be close to the corporate’s U.S. plant. He stated he desires to assist out locally and get entangled with native universities’ engineering packages.

“It is lovely right here, there are numerous lakes and timber, and we will actually chill out,” he advised Wards.

De Nysschen, a local of South Africa recognized to be outspoken and quick-witted, helped Volkswagen enhance the standard of its North American-made autos and strengthened the corporate’s relations with sellers.

He moved to VW after Basic Motors fired him as president of the Cadillac model. In his 4 years working Cadillac, de Nysschen irritated some sellers with sweeping plans to overtake the model and its retail community. He additionally relocated the model’s headquarters to New York — a transfer GM reversed after ousting him.

De Nysschen was named an Automotive Information All-Star in 2020.