STUTTGART (dpa-AFX) - Shareholder representatives have reiterated their criticism of the dual role of car manager Oliver Blume. The 55-year-old is CEO of the VW Group and Porsche AG - making him the only manager to lead two Dax companies. This means that both companies are affording themselves a "part-time executive," said Ingo Speich of savings bank fund company Deka Investment at the sports car maker's annual general meeting in Stuttgart. He urged Blume on Wednesday to decide where he was more urgently needed. "Don't endanger Porsche," he said. "For you, too, the day has only 24 hours."

Hendrik Schmidt of Deutsche Bank's fund subsidiary DWS and Ulrich Hocker of the Deutsche Schutzvereinigung für Wertpapierbesitz, among others, voiced similar criticism.

Blume countered the investors' criticism: The dual role is designed to last, he said. He was convinced that he would be able to perform his function. Both Porsche and the Volkswagen Group could benefit from this, he said, as the interests of both were aligned. However, he said, precautions had been taken and rules drawn up for potential conflicts of interest. So far, however, there have been no such conflicts.

The sports car and off-road vehicle manufacturer had issued invitations to its first annual general meeting on Wednesday following the Borsengang last September. Blume had already been criticized for his dual role at the VW AGM in May./jwe/DP/stw