David Powels has been SEAT S.A.’s Executive Vice-President for Finance and IT since 1st September 2021.
 

Powels has more than 30 years of international experience within the Group, in countries such as China, Brazil, Germany and South Africa, where he is originally from. In 2017, he was appointed first Vice-President and Executive Vice-President for Commercial at SAIC Volkswagen Automotive Co. in China, a joint venture between SAIC Motor and Volkswagen Group.
 

David Powels gained his degree in Commerce from the Nelson Mandela University of Port Elizabeth and qualified as a Chartered Accountant in South Africa. He also completed a Postgraduate Management Development Programme at the University of Cape Town. Powels started his career at Volkswagen South Africa in 1989. After working in Germany and Brazil, he was appointed CEO of Volkswagen Group South Africa in 2007. He was subsequently President and CEO of VW Brazil and VW Region South America. Powels speaks English, German and Portuguese.