Kurt Michels

Kurt Michels a highly experienced senior corporate executive specializing in compliance, legal, regulatory and product safety matters. Dr. Michels is the Chief Compliance Officer of Volkswagen Group, a position he assumed in April 2017 and to which he brings nearly 20 years of legal and compliance experience within the automotive sector. In this role, he oversees compliance management staff at all Volkswagen Group brands, as well as its financial and retail units. Prior to joining Volkswagen Group, Dr. Michels served in several executive roles across Daimler AG, most recently as Chief Compliance Officer for Trucks, Vans & Buses (2013-2017). In this capacity he oversaw the development and implementation of a worldwide corruption prevention compliance program designed to adhere to compliance and regulatory requirements and prevent money laundering. Dr. Michels also headed the cooperation between Daimler AG and U.S. authorities and an appointed compliance monitor during the company's monitorship period. He additionally served in other senior leadership positions across Daimler AG, including Chief Compliance Officer for Trucks & Vans (2011-2013), Head of Legal & Compliance EMEA Network (2010-2011) and Head of Legal Product Safety & Regulatory (2006-2010). Dr. Michels also spent six years at Daimler Benz AG and DaimlerChrysler AG in legal roles focusing on procurement and distribution as well as product safety regulatory matters. He held global responsibility for product safety, product liability prevention, emissions law, technical compliance, criminal and public law, as well as supporting U.S. class action lawsuits. Dr. Michels studied law and earned his Ph.D. at Tübingen University.