Mercedes-Benz has officially announced the appointment of Dimitris Psillakis as Head of Marketing and Sales for Mercedes-Benz Cars North America and, crucially, as the new Ceo Of Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA). Effective from January 1, 2021, this leadership transition marks a significant moment for the luxury automotive brand in a key global market. Psillakis steps into this prestigious role, reporting directly to Britta Seeger, Member of the Board of Management of Daimler AG and Mercedes-Benz AG, responsible for Marketing and Sales.
This appointment sees Psillakis, formerly President and CEO of Mercedes-Benz Canada, succeed Nicholas Speeks, who concludes an impressive 40-year tenure with Daimler to pursue new endeavors. The new ceo of mercedes for the North American market will be based in Atlanta, Georgia, the headquarters of MBUSA.
Britta Seeger emphasized the strategic rationale behind Psillakis’s appointment, stating, “Dimitris is a proven leader who successfully expanded the growth of Mercedes-Benz in key markets around the world. I am confident Dimitris will continue to advance our North American operations during this time of unprecedented transformation.” Her statement underscores the company’s belief in Psillakis’s capabilities to navigate the evolving automotive landscape. Seeger also acknowledged the significant contributions of Nicholas Speeks, expressing gratitude for his decades of service and wishing him well in his future pursuits.
In his capacity as ceo of mercedes USA, Dimitris Psillakis assumes comprehensive oversight for Mercedes-Benz Cars operations across both the United States and Canada. This encompasses leading a substantial workforce of over 1,600 employees within MBUSA and collaborating with more than 380 dealer partners throughout the U.S. His responsibilities also extend to Canada, involving an additional 1,200 employees and nearly 60 authorized dealerships. While transitioning to his new position, Psillakis continued to serve as President and CEO of Mercedes-Benz Canada until the end of the year. The announcement of his successor in the Canadian role was expected at a later date. In the interim, Drew J. Slaven, MBUSA’s VP of Marketing, served as acting Head of Marketing and Sales, Mercedes-Benz Cars North America and CEO of MBUSA.
Psillakis’s journey with Daimler AG commenced in 1992 as a management trainee at Mercedes-Benz Hellas (MBH) in Greece. His career trajectory within the Greek subsidiary was marked by consistent advancement, culminating in his promotion to General Manager of Passenger Cars in 2001. His international experience broadened in 2009 when he moved to Mercedes-Benz do Brasil Ltda, taking on the role of Managing Director for Passenger Cars in South America and Vans Sales Brazil. Notably, during his six-year tenure in Brazil, his leadership resulted in a tripling of sales volume, positioning Mercedes-Benz at the top of the market in Brazil. Prior to his Canadian role and subsequent appointment as ceo of mercedes USA, Psillakis served as President and CEO of Mercedes-Benz Korea (MBK) from 2015. His leadership in South Korea was equally impactful, as he oversaw the market’s expansion to become the 5th largest globally for Mercedes-Benz Cars, while simultaneously achieving top-tier ratings in customer satisfaction.
A native of Greece, Dimitris Psillakis holds academic degrees from the University of Kent at Canterbury and The Imperial College Business School at the University of London, UK. His educational background, combined with his extensive and diverse experience within Mercedes-Benz across multiple international markets, positions him as a highly qualified leader to steer Mercedes-Benz USA into the future as its new ceo of mercedes. This appointment signals Mercedes-Benz’s commitment to strong leadership and continued growth in the crucial North American market.
