Arno van der Merwe, Mercedes-Benz SA (MBSA)’s vice president of manufacturing, will replace Dr Martin Zimmerman as chief executive of the company from March 1.
Van der Merwe’s promotion will mark the first time that MBSA will be headed by a South African-born chief executive. Dr Zimmermann will return to DAG’s Stuttgart offices to take up the position of Head of Global Service and Parts for the Mercedes-Benz and Smart brands.
Van der Merwe will retain his current role in addition to assuming the responsibilities of the company’s chief executive. He was only the second South African to head up the award-winning plant in East London in 2012.
This announcement by parent company, Daimler AG (DAG), also accompanied a notification of changes to the Board of Directors at MBSA.
Prof Dr Jürgen Schrempp has resigned from the MBSA Board of Directors, having served the company in various roles since 1974. He will be replaced as the chair by Dr. Joachim Schmidt, who was a board member of MBSA while he headed up DAG’s Global Sales Organisation, from January 2014.
“We thank Dr Zimmermann for his tireless efforts during his tenure at MBSA, setting the company up in a new strategic direction with an exceptional growth trajectory,” said Dr Schmidt. “We are also confident that Mr van der Merwe’s strong track record of leadership and performance will further enhance the management team and the company’s goals for the future.”
“I am proud of Arno taking over from me,” Dr Zimmerman added. “He has been groomed systematically during the past years to take over this senior leadership role, and his experience, passion, dedication and people-oriented leadership style will allow MBSA to continue its drive towards becoming the undisputed leader in all segments where it competes, as well as to remain a passionate contributor to the socio-economic development and transformation of South Africa.”
Meanwhile, Naeem Hassim co-leads Sandown Motor Holdings along with its current CEO, Roy McAllister, but is set to take over the reins from the latter in January next year. McAllister will remain a director and shareholder of Sandown thereafter, and continue to provide his extensive leadership and business experience to MBSA’s retail arm.
