Ferdinand Piëch
Ferdinand Karl Piëch (German pronunciation: [ˈfɛʁdinant ˈpiːɛç] ; 17 April 1937 – 25 August 2019) was an Austrian business magnate, engineer, and executive who held the positions of chairman of the executive board (Vorstandsvorsitzender) of the Volkswagen Group from 1993 to 2002, and chairman of the supervisory board (Aufsichtsratsvorsitzender) from 2002 to 2015. Piëch was pivotal in the advancement of technologies such as the TDI engine and the Quattro all-wheel-drive system, both of which played crucial roles in Volkswagen's success in the automotive industry. His enduring legacy as one of Germany's most respected engineers is underscored by his influence on the development of the MQB platform. A grandson of Ferdinand Porsche, Piëch began his career at Porsche before moving to Audi, following an agreement that no member of the Porsche or Piëch families would be directly involved in Porsche's daily operations. At Audi, Piëch was instrumental in transforming the brand into a formidable competitor to Mercedes-Benz and BMW, thanks to groundbreaking models like the Audi Quattro and the Audi 100.