Patricia Such is new SEAT Director of Corporate Operations

Volkswagen Group entities in the Iberian Peninsula in focus

SEAT and Volkswagen Group have announced the appointment of Patricia Such as the Director of Corporate Operations for the Iberian Peninsula.

In her new role, Such will oversee a newly created department integrating various crucial areas, reporting directly to the CEO of SEAT and CUPRA, Wayne Griffiths.

The newly established role consolidates Institutional Relations, CASA SEAT Barcelona, CUPRA City Garage Madrid, Health and Emergencies, and Safety under Such’s leadership.

This strategic move aims to foster synergies and enhance the quality of services across all Volkswagen Group companies in the Iberian Peninsula.

Such’s responsibilities extend to promoting dialogue with institutional, business, social, and cultural networks at local, regional, and national levels. The objective is to create an ecosystem encouraging public-private collaboration, facilitating the most significant transformation in SEAT’s history.

Role in focus

Wayne Griffiths, CEO of SEAT and CUPRA, highlighted the importance of Such’s role in the current disruptive automotive industry context.

He stressed the significance of public-private collaboration and the need for trusted individuals like Patricia to lead strategic areas. He maintained a high-level dialogue between significant institutions and SEAT, CUPRA, and Volkswagen Group companies in Spain.

Griffiths added: “This appointment is a recognition of her work and a sign of our commitment to internal talent and diversity.”

He praised Such’s personal and professional vision, emphasising her commitment to placing people at the centre of her work. Griffiths expressed confidence in Such’s ability to drive the company’s transformation in her new role.

Such, a medical graduate from the Hospital Clínic at the University of Barcelona and a specialist in Occupational Medicine, brings a unique perspective to her new role.

Holding a degree in Occupational Risk Prevention from the Barcelona School of Engineering, UPC, and a General Management Programme (PDG) from the IESE Business School, Such joined SEAT in 2002.

Her journey within the company has included leading medical services since 2011. Under her guidance, health initiatives at SEAT reached new heights, creating CARS, the Health Care and Rehabilitation Centre for company employees, and the Volkswagen Group in Spain.

Such successfully integrated the occupational health and safety network of various Volkswagen Group companies in Spain and Portugal, enhancing services for over 20,000 employees.

During the pandemic, Such was pivotal in manufacturing emergency respirators in the first wave of Covid-19, supplying hospitals with scarce resources.

She also spearheaded the employee testing strategy and led the vaccination campaign, showcasing a successful public-private collaboration that saved the health system almost 20 million euros.

With the support of Dr Bonaventura Clotet, SEAT managed to vaccinate more than 120,000 people in Spain, making a substantial contribution to the national effort against the pandemic.

Featured image: Patricia Such’s newly established role consolidates Institutional Relations, CASA SEAT Barcelona, CUPRA City Garage Madrid, Health and Emergencies, and Safety. Image: SEAT