Daimler AG Chief Dieter Zetsche is working to find the next generation of Daimler executives, ideally a more diverse group of leaders.
Daimler AG’s top board appointed Britta Seeger to the company’s board of management, responsible for marketing and sales at Mercedes-Benz cars to replace Ola Kallenius.
The 46-year old Seeger, one of the few women to hold a senior executive post within Daimler AG, is one of a group of younger executives being groomed by Dieter Zetsche, Daimler’s CEO, for leadership roles with in the German industrial giant.
Seeger’s appointment is effective Jan. 1, 2017. She is currently head of Mercedes-Benz operations in Turkey and previously was in charge of Mercedes-Benz operations in South Korea.
Seeger replaces Ola Kallenius, who will take responsibility for Group research and Mercedes-Benz Cars development. Kallenius is often mentioned as one of the leading candidates to replace Zetsche.
“The Mercedes-Benz brand is the heart of Daimler AG. The marketing and sales of Mercedes-Benz Cars is the most important connection with our customers, and therefore has a key function at the Group,” said Manfred Bischoff, chairman of the Supervisory Board of Daimler AG.
“With Britta Seeger, we are appointing an experienced executive who has successfully held leading positions in sales worldwide since 2013. The appointment of Britta Seeger also rejuvenates the Board of Management and shows that we have outstanding women for Board of Management positions.
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“With her qualifications in business administration and her international experience, Britta Seeger will further strengthen the position of Mercedes-Benz Cars with the premium brands Mercedes-Benz and smart worldwide,” he said.
Sales of Mercedes-Benz Cars division increased by 9% to 546,500 vehicles in the second quarter of 2016, according to the company’s quarterly financial report released this week. Mercedes-Benz Cars also set a new record in China, its biggest market, but sales in the United States were slightly lower than in the second quarter of last year.
Overall, Daimler’s revenue increased by 3% and net income also increased by 3%, but one-time charges reduced earnings before interest taxes or EBIT dropped by 12%.
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“We continue to grow profitably and are well on the way to achieving our forecasts for the full year. We intend to make 2016 into another successful year for Daimler,” said Bodo Uebber, Daimler’s chief financial officer.
“We are starting the second half of the year with record unit sales and will systematically continue along our path. The development of earnings once again shows that our company is extremely well positioned in all areas and that our long-term strategy is paying off on a sustained basis” Zetsche said.
Daimler said at the beginning of the third quarter, there are many indications that the world economy will continue along its course of expansion with growth rates below their long-term trends. At present, world gross domestic product is growing at a year-on-year rate of nearly 2.5% and growth for the full year is expected to be of that magnitude.
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According to recent assessments, worldwide demand for cars is likely to increase from its high level by about 3% in 2016. As in the previous year, the biggest contribution to this global growth should come from the Chinese market, which is likely to grow again significantly. But the expected increase in demand will be largely due to state stimulus. For the US market for cars and light trucks,