In my most recent book, Leadership from Bad to Worse: What Happens When Bad Festers, one of the cases I examined most closely was that of Martin Winterkorn.* Winterkorn was the CEO of Volkswagen during the infamous scandal known as “Dieselgate.”
Under Winterkorn’s leadership Volkswagen regularly, and over a period of about eight years, defrauded customers, regulators, competitors, and the public. The company knowingly installed software in millions of vehicles deliberately designed to test more environmentally friendly than they really were. The scheme continued until it didn’t. Until it was stopped by authorities after being alerted by outside investigators who discovered the crime.
Though the wrongdoing became known a decade ago, up to now only a handful of people have been held to account. Winterkorn has not been among them. He faces criminal prosecution – but so far, he remains a free man.
Still, it’s not over till it’s over. Just this week two former Volkswagen directors were found guilty in a German court of fraud. Two were sentenced to several years in prison – but Winterkorn was not among them. This time his case was separated from the others because his lawyers claimed health issues precluded his appearance in court.
Poor Martin.
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* Oxford University Press, 2024. https://www.amazon.com/Leadership-Bad-Worse-Happens-Festers/dp/0197759270