Mercedes-Benz has named Mathias Geisen as head of its van operations, changing Marcus Breitschwerdt on Jan. 1.

Breitschwerdt will turn into head of Mercedes-Benz model and company heritage together with the Mercedes-Benz Museum, and all enterprise actions within the traditional space, the automaker stated in a information launch.

Geisen, 43, is at present head of company technique for Daimler and Mercedes-Benz. He joined Daimler-Benz in 1998, holding positions in product administration and gross sales. In 2013 he took over duty for van gross sales outdoors Europe, and was basic supervisor for vans within the U.S. from 2014-17. In 2019 he took over product administration for Mercedes SUVs, compact autos and electrical vehicles, after which added duty for general company technique.

Mercedes bought 374,652 vans worldwide in 2020, a 15 p.c lower from 2019. European gross sales had been 245,220, an 18 p.c lower. European market share was 2.2 p.c in Europe in small vans (the Citan, constructed by Renault) and 17.1 p.c for midsize/massive (Vito/Sprinter) vans. Within the U.S. the Sprinter had a ten.5 p.c market share, a rise of 1.7 share factors over 2019.

Breitschwerdt, 60, began at Mercedes-Benz in 1991 as a controller, and led transportation and environmental technique earlier than taking on as head of Mercedes vehicles advertising and portfolio technique in 2000. His different posts at Mercedes included president of Mercedes Canada, president of Mercedes UK, and head of Mercedes vehicles Europe gross sales area. He was named head of van operations in 2019.