The planned listing of Porsche has generated huge investor interest, Volkswagen Group and Porsche CEO Oliver Blume said, playing down concerns over how he will manage both companies following the IPO.
Attracting interest from a broad range of investors was important, Blume said, declining to comment on what proportion of Porsche shares VW plans to offer to retail investors as part of the planned flotation.
Only some investors have asked questions about Blume’s dual role, Blume told Reuters on a video call, adding he viewed it was necessary for the executive of the VW Group to also be in charge of a brand.
“If something about Porsche AG is being discussed on the board of the group, I’ll leave the room,” Blume, who became CEO of Volkswagen on Sept. 1, said.
“The strategic leadership of the group and the operational management of a brand suit each other perfectly … in my view the linking of the two is necessary.”
VW announced on Monday that it would list sports-car brand Porsche this month or in early October, even as some investors criticized the timing of the decision given that war in Ukraine and record high inflation are destabilizing markets.
Some also questioned whether Blume, who has headed up Porsche since 2015, would be capable of managing both entities at once.
Hani Joudi 
