BERLIN — Michael Kirsch, CEO of Porsche Japan, will become president and CEO of Porsche China and Porsche Hong Kong and Macao on June 1, the brand said in a statement.
Kirsch, 56, has held the position of CEO in Japan since 2019 and previously served as COO of Porsche China from 2012 to 2016. Prior to the Japan post, Kirsch was the German luxury brand’s Korea head for three years.
His succeeds Jens Puttfarcken, who has served as president and CEO of Porsche China, Hong Kong and Macao, since 2018, and has been appointed by Audi to assume the role of head of sales in Europe. Porsche and Audi are part of Volkswagen Group.
Puttfarcken oversaw a significant market expansion of Porsche in China, including the founding of Porsche Digital China in 2019. He also led the establishment of a research and development satellite location in Shanghai, which is due to open this year.
"I am confident that he [Kirsch] will set further strong impulses with plenty of valuable initiatives for the Chinese market and will continue to increase the impact of our brand there," Detlev von Platen, Porsche's sales and marketing chief, said in the statement.
Kirsch held senior management positions at BMW and an international hotel chain before joining Porsche.