Ivan Hirst

Major Ivan Hirst , was a British Army officer and engineer who was instrumental in reviving Volkswagen from a single factory in Wolfsburg, Germany, into a major postwar automotive manufacturer.

Hirst was born in Saddleworth, Yorkshire, England and attended Hulme Grammar School in Oldham. His family had founded the Hirst Brothers Company, a manufacturer of watches, clocks and optical components in Oldham. He studied optical engineering at the University of Manchester, prior to forming his own company repairing optical instruments. While a student he was a member of the universitys Officers Training Corps contingent.

Source: Wikipedia