After 21 years in the service of Audi history, Thomas Frank is ending his role as Head of Audi Tradition and Managing Director of Auto Union GmbH and retiring at the end of 2020. He will be succeeded by Stefan Trauf on January 1, 2021.
Great service to Audi history
Thomas Frank, born in 1957, has been with AUDI AG since 1991. From 1999, he built up the newly created Audi Tradition department, which he headed until his retirement. It was during his time that the Audi museum mobile, which opened 20 years ago, was built. Under the Cologne native, the company's historical department developed into a flagship of the Four Rings, which was also accompanied by a new awareness of history among the Audi workforce.
In the more than 20 years of his work, the historical significance of the Ingolstadt-based automotive company with a history of over 120 years was clearly recorded and accompanied by numerous activities. In addition to building up a professional company archive, this also includes conscientious research, which has made many book projects possible and serves as a qualified knowledge base for specialists from all over the world.
Detailed restorations of outstanding contemporary automotive witnesses to the company's own history reflect the appreciation in the classic car scene. Thomas Frank and his team have also intensively prepared and supported participation in various events - be it historic automobile events in Germany and abroad, special exhibitions in the Audi museum mobile or the annual model car exchange, which was to become the largest in southern Germany.
The establishment of a spare parts supply for the proud owners of vintage and classic cars with the four rings on the radiator was also a success. The number of historic exhibits in the depot, "the hallowed halls", has increased massively in Thomas Frank's time: whereas in 1999 there were 140 cars, today there are 690. The number of historic motorcycles has grown from 50 to 200.
He was the face of the Audi tradition
Anton Poll, Chairman of the Advisory Board of Auto Union GmbH, pays special tribute to Thomas Frank's passionate work: "Thomas Frank was the face of Audi Tradition for many years. He has represented AUDI AG to the public in the best possible way and has rendered outstanding services to the perception of our history. We wish him all the best for his well-deserved retirement."
On January 1, 2021, Stefan Trauf will become the new Head of Audi Tradition and Managing Director of Auto Union GmbH. The business graduate (FH) was born in Ingolstadt in 1972 and has worked for the brand with the four rings since 2001.
For the past five years, the finance expert has been in charge of Central Risk Management at AUDI AG. Stefan Trauf has been an authorized signatory at Auto Union GmbH since 2015 and Chief Financial Officer (CFO) since 2019.
