OREANDA-NEWS. Volvo Cars, the premium car maker, has announced three appointments to its executive management team to further position the company for the next phase of its global transformation. 

Javier Varela has been appointed senior vice president manufacturing. He joins the company from PSA Peugeot Citroen. He will start at Volvo Cars on November 1. Lars Wrebo, senior vice president purchasing and manufacturing, has decided to leave the company. 

Henrik Green has been appointed senior vice president, order to delivery control and customer service. Mr Green was formerly vice president product strategy and vehicle line management at Volvo Cars. 

Hanna Fager has been appointed senior vice president human resources. She has held various positions within human resources and will bring this broad experience to the role. 

The above two appointments take effect on October 1, 2016. 

“Volvo is mid-way through the most significant transformation in its 89 year history. Phase one of this transformation has been completed. I would like to welcome these new members to the team that is going to implement phase two,” said H?kan Samuelsson, president and chief executive. 

Phase one of Volvo’s transformation started six years ago when the company was acquired by Zhejiang Geely Holdings. It involved the design of new vehicle architectures and powertrains, deciding to launch an entirely new product range, enhancing the brand’s position as a genuine competitor in the premium car market and ensuring the company remains profitable. 

Phase two will be implemented over the next five years. It will involve the launch of exciting new cars including its first ever small, premium SUV, opening a new manufacturing plant in the US, among other things and building on its leading position in autonomous driving and electrification. 

About Volvo Car Group

Volvo has been in operation since 1927. Today, Volvo Cars is one of the most well-known and respected car brands in the world with sales of 503,127 in 2015 in about 100 countries. Volvo Cars has been under the ownership of the Zhejiang Geely Holding (Geely Holding) of China since 2010. It formed part of the Swedish Volvo Group until 1999, when the company was bought by Ford Motor Company of the US. In 2010, Volvo Cars was acquired by Geely Holding.