It was suggested that Bernhard originally considered leaving the company after former CEO Bernd Pischetsrieder was given the shove and replaced with Audi Boss Martin Winterkorn. Relations between Bernhard and Winterkorn at the time were said to be at an all time low.
Bernhard will surely be missed at VW. The star recruit was responsible for delivering a forecasted $9 billion in gross earnings improvements for the group by 2008 and was originally handpicked by Pischetsrieder.