Mercedes-Benz Canada has announced its first woman CEO, effective Feb. 1, 2021.
Eva Wiese, 45, succeeds Dimitris Psillakis, who in October was appointed by the Daimler board of management as head of marketing and sales, Mercedes-Benz Cars North America and CEO of MBUSA, effective Jan. 1, 2021.
“Eva’s extensive experience in multiple markets and across a variety of business areas will … help further grow Mercedes-Benz’ position in the Canadian market,” Psillakis said in a statement. “Mercedes-Benz Canada benefits from strong female leaders throughout the organization and we are very pleased that Eva will contribute to that even further as the first woman to lead the company.”
Wiese has experience in retail, brand, marketing and customer service. She has experience with not only passenger cars but also vans and the Mercedes-AMG sub-brand.
The company said in a statement that her experience makes her “invaluable to Mercedes-Benz Canada.”
Wiese, who was born in Germany and grew up in the Darmstadt region, started her career at Mercedes-Benz in 2001, as a management trainee. After gaining experience in various departments and at different locations across Germany, the United States and Asia, she worked as executive assistant to the head of Mercedes Car Group.
She eventually became responsible for strategic product management at Mercedes-Benz Passenger Cars.
In 2016, Eva joined Mercedes-AMG as head of marketing and product management.
Since 2019, Wiese has been leading Own Retail Passenger Cars and Vans in Wuerttemberg, consisting of 17 locations around Stuttgart, Germany.
For the interim period in January 2021 between Psillakis’ departure and Wiese’s arrival, Mercedes-Benz Canada Chief Financial Officer Felix Britsch will serve as interim President and CEO.
