VOLKSWAGEN Group UK managing director Richard Ide is to retire at the end of the year after 11 years in the post. He will be succeeded by Robin Woolcock, who joined the group in 1989 and has been head of Volkswagen UK since 1994.

As group managing director Woolcock will be in charge of the company's five separate businesses - Volkswagen, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, Audi, Skoda and SEAT. Woolcock will continue to be responsible for Volkswagen UK until a successor is appointed.