By Max Bernhard 
 

Audi AG (NSU.XE) on Wednesday named Bram Schot as its chief executive, making his position permanent after a spell as interim CEO in the wake of the arrest of the company's previous top executive.

Mr. Schot has been interim CEO of Audi, Volkswagen AG's (VOW.XE) luxury car maker, since June, when then-CEO Rupert Stadler was arrested in Germany on allegations that he tried to tamper with witnesses in the emissions scandal surrounding the company. Mr. Schot was previously responsible for sales and marketing at Audi.

Audi said the appointment is effective Jan. 1.

"The Audi workforce wants clear conditions at the top of the company. That's why we employee representatives are committed to doing the job properly and appointing Bram Schot as chairman of the board of management," said Peter Mosch, deputy supervisory board chairman and chairman of the works council.

Mr. Mosch said Mr. Schot has shown ability to provide "great impetus to the new start we have called for."

Mr. Stadler, who has since left the boards of both Audi and Volkswagen, was released from pretrial detention in late October, but prosecutors said he remains a suspect. The former CEO has in the past said he had no prior knowledge that illegal software was installed on Volkswagen or Audi engines.

According to German media reports, Audi's board was initially eyeing BMW AG manager Markus Duesmann for the top job, but Mr. Duesmann wasn't immediately available to fill the post as a result of competition clauses in his contract at BMW. Volkswagen said in July that Mr. Duesmann would join its board "as soon as he is able to do so," without specifying what his exact role would be.

Write to Max Bernhard at max.bernhard@dowjones.com; @mxbernhard

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

December 12, 2018 07:32 ET (12:32 GMT)