Volkswagen brand's U.S. sales chief Ron Stach is out

Volkswagen of America has parted ways with its vice president of sales.

Ron Stach, 49, who has headed U.S. sales for the VW brand for nearly two years, has left the automaker effective Jan. 4, a spokeswoman confirmed to Automotive News. A reason for the departure was unavailable, and Stach could not be reached for comment.

In 2017, VW brand's sales rose 5.2 percent to 339,676. But the brand's November and December results were down sharply from a year earlier, dropping 1.6 percent in November and 19 percent in December as sales of its sedans and hatchbacks plummeted.

Stach was given the U.S. sales job on March 2, 2016 -- a week before his then boss, Volkswagen of America CEO Michael Horn, departed the company by mutual agreement. Stach replaced Mark Barnes, who became COO of Bentley of the Americas.

Stach's role will be filled temporarily by Derrick Hatami, who joined Volkswagen in June as executive vice president for sales and marketing after a two-year stint with Hyundai Motor America, a spokeswoman said.