Mercedes-Benz has officially announced the appointment of Dimitris Psillakis as the new Head of Marketing and Sales for Mercedes-Benz Cars North America and CEO of Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA). Effective January 1, 2021, Psillakis steps into this pivotal 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 strategic leadership change signals Mercedes-Benz’s commitment to continued growth and innovation in the North American market.
This announcement, made by Britta Seeger, underscores the company’s confidence in Psillakis’s proven leadership capabilities. He succeeds Nicholas Speeks, who departs after an impressive 40-year tenure with Daimler, paving the way for Psillakis to steer Mercedes-Benz USA into a new era. Psillakis will operate from Mercedes-Benz USA headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia, a key hub for the luxury automotive brand in North America.
Britta Seeger highlighted Psillakis’s global success and leadership acumen, 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 emphasizes the critical period of change within the automotive industry and Mercedes-Benz’s proactive approach to navigating these shifts under Psillakis’s guidance as CEO Mercedes-Benz. Seeger also expressed gratitude to Nicholas Speeks for his decades of service and wished him well in his future endeavors.
In his capacity as CEO Mercedes-Benz USA and Head of Marketing and Sales, North America, Psillakis will hold comprehensive responsibility for Mercedes-Benz Cars across both the United States and Canada. This encompasses leading a substantial workforce of over 1,600 employees at MBUSA and managing relationships with more than 380 dealer partners throughout the U.S. His expanded role also includes overseeing approximately 1,200 employees and nearly 60 authorized dealers in Canada. For the remainder of the year of the announcement, Psillakis continued his responsibilities as President and CEO of Mercedes-Benz Canada, ensuring a smooth transition. The announcement of his successor in the Canadian role was scheduled for a later date. In the interim, MBUSA’s VP of Marketing, Drew J. Slaven, maintained his position as acting Head of Marketing and Sales, Mercedes-Benz Cars North America and CEO of MBUSA, ensuring leadership continuity.
Dimitris Psillakis’s journey with Daimler AG commenced in 1992 when he joined Mercedes-Benz Hellas (MBH) as a management trainee. His career trajectory within the Greek subsidiary saw him progressively ascend to the position of general manager of passenger cars in 2001. His international experience broadened in 2009 with a move to Mercedes-Benz do Brasil Ltda, where he served as managing director for passenger cars in South America and Vans Sales Brazil. During his six-year tenure in Brazil, his leadership resulted in tripling sales volume, propelling Mercedes-Benz to the number one market position in Brazil. In 2015, Psillakis assumed the role of President and CEO of Mercedes-Benz Korea (MBK). His successful leadership in South Korea saw the market rise to become the 5th largest globally for Mercedes-Benz Cars, coupled with achieving top-tier customer satisfaction ratings.
Psillakis brings a strong academic foundation to his role as CEO Mercedes-Benz. A native of Greece, he holds degrees from the University of Kent at Canterbury and The Imperial College Business School at the University of London, UK. His educational background complements his extensive on-the-ground experience in diverse international markets, positioning him well to lead Mercedes-Benz USA in a dynamic and evolving automotive landscape.
About Mercedes-Benz USA
Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA), headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, is the distribution, marketing, and customer service arm for all Mercedes-Benz products within the United States. MBUSA boasts the most diverse lineup in the luxury segment, offering 15 model lines, ranging from the A-Class sedan to the flagship S-Class and the high-performance Mercedes-AMG GT R. Mercedes-Benz USA also manages the Mercedes-Benz Vans product line in the U.S. Further information about MBUSA and its offerings can be accessed at www.mbusa.com and www.mbvans.com. Media professionals can find resources at www.media.mbusa.com.
