Mercedes-Benz has announced a significant leadership change in its North American operations, naming Dimitris Psillakis as the Head of Marketing and Sales for Mercedes-Benz Cars North America and the new CEO of Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA). This appointment, effective January 1, 2021, signals a strategic move to further strengthen the luxury automotive brand’s presence in this crucial market.
The announcement was made by Britta Seeger, a Member of the Board of Management at both Daimler AG and Mercedes-Benz AG, responsible for Marketing and Sales. Psillakis will directly report to Seeger, underscoring the importance of this role within the global Mercedes-Benz structure. He succeeds Nicholas Speeks, a veteran of over 40 years with the company, who will be departing to pursue new opportunities. Psillakis will be based at MBUSA headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia.
“Dimitris is a proven leader with a remarkable track record of expanding Mercedes-Benz growth in key markets worldwide,” stated Britta Seeger. Her endorsement highlights the company’s confidence in Psillakis’s ability to navigate the evolving automotive landscape in North America. “I am confident Dimitris will continue to advance our North American operations during this period of unprecedented transformation within the industry. We also extend our sincere gratitude to Nick Speeks for his exceptional dedication and contributions to Mercedes-Benz over the past four decades, wishing him the very best in his future endeavors.”
In his expanded role, Psillakis will take comprehensive responsibility for all Mercedes-Benz Cars activities 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. Additionally, he will oversee approximately 1,200 employees and nearly 60 authorized dealers in Canada. Psillakis will maintain his current position as President and CEO of Mercedes-Benz Canada until the end of the year, ensuring a smooth transition. The announcement of his successor for the Canadian role is expected at a later date. In the interim, Drew J. Slaven, MBUSA’s VP of Marketing, will continue to serve as acting Head of Marketing and Sales, Mercedes-Benz Cars North America and CEO of MBUSA.
Psillakis’s journey with Daimler AG began in 1992 as a management trainee at Mercedes-Benz Hellas (MBH) in Greece. His career progressed steadily within the Greek subsidiary, culminating in his promotion to General Manager of Passenger Cars in 2001. In 2009, he took on a new challenge at Mercedes-Benz do Brasil Ltda, becoming 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 and achieving market leadership. Prior to this North American appointment, Psillakis served as President and CEO of Mercedes-Benz Korea (MBK) from 2015. Under his guidance, South Korea became the 5th largest market globally for Mercedes-Benz Cars, while also achieving top rankings in customer satisfaction, demonstrating his commitment to both growth and customer experience.
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, equipping him with a strong foundation for leading a major automotive operation. His extensive international experience and proven success in diverse markets position him well to steer Mercedes-Benz through the evolving challenges and opportunities in the North American luxury car market as the new Mercedes Ceo.
