Mercedes-Benz SA's co-chief executive officer resigns

Source: MotorPress

Mercedes-Benz South Africa: "Fritz, who spent four years in South Africa, believed firmly that the brand’s biggest differentiators in a highly competitive market would be an innovative retail experience, an unwavering focus on customer care and a strong partnership with its agent partners.

Fritz was a driving force behind the recently launched Mercedes-Benz Sandton flagship dealership showcasing the ‘retail of the future’ design concept and being one of the first of its kind in the Mercedes-Benz world.

His efforts to broaden the brand’s appeal were recognised through several awards, including the ‘Coolest Brand‘ from Sunday Times Gen Next, and ‘Top Brand’ from the Sunday Times - awarded consecutively since 2017."

Fritz will be succeeded by Mark Raine, who is currently vice president of product and marketing at Mercedes-Benz Cars in Korea. The move is something of a homecoming for Raine, who grew up in Pretoria before joining Mercedes-Benz in Stuttgart in 2002.

Raine has played a key role in driving the company’s digital transformation and further enhancing its brand value in the Korean market while working to reduce complexity and improve the product portfolio. He previously worked in the company’s Middle East operation, before heading marketing and sales for Mercedes-Benz in Malaysia.

One of Raine’s main strategic objectives will be the introduction of the Mercedes-EQ range into the South African market from Q1 2022 onwards.