(Yicai Global) Sept. 19 -- China's FAW Group Corporation, also known as First Automotive Works, a state-owned car maker based in Changchun, China's northeastern Jilin province, has undergone senior executive changes. Zhang Pijie, general manager of the joint venture FAW-Volkswagen Automobile Co., will be transferred to serve as the head of purchasing department of the Faw Group, responsible for the purchase business of Hongqi brand car by FAW Car Co. [SHE:000800], Group's subsidiary.

Faw-Volkswagen general manager's position will be taken over by Liu Yigong, deputy secretary of commission for discipline inspection of Faw Group. In addition, Hu Yong, general manager of Faw Car Co., will be transferred to serve as head of strategic management department at Faw Group, cnqcr.com reported today.

Zhang's transfer to the Hongqi team is in a bid to implement Faw Group's strategic objective to build Hongqi brand. Before the personnel changes, the group has transferred more than 20 people from Faw-Volkswagen to the Hongqi team.

Zhang served as general manager of Faw-Volkswagen in April 2013 and has many years of management experience in Audi, a high-end car brand of Volkswagen Group, which will help him develop Hongqi car business in the future, the report suggested.

Hongqi, China's first home-grown car brand, started production in 1958 and has served for Chinese state leaders for decades.