Mercedes-Benz has appointed
Roland S. Folger as the Managing Director and CEO of its India operations.
Roland S. Folger will replace Eberhard Kern who will assume a new role for the
European market. This was stated in a press release issued by the company.
Roland Folger will take the
new responsibility of heading Mercedes-Benz India from October 1, 2015. He is a
Mercedes-Benz veteran for over three decades. After holding several positions
in Sales departments for Mercedes-Benz Passenger Cars and Commercial Vehicles
with responsibility for the SEA region, he was appointed Vice President for
Sales, Marketing and After Sales at MBUSI in Tuscaloosa, where Folger was part
of the pioneering team that introduced the first M-Class in the USA.
In 2006, he joined
Mercedes-Benz Vans division as Head of Product Management and Marketing
Communication and two years later took over the responsibility for worldwide
Sales Vans in September 2008. Effective March 1, 2011, Folger was appointed
President& CEO of Mercedes-Benz Malaysia.
Eberhard Kern in the three
years during his tenure here in India was able to enhance the growth strategy
of Mercedes-Benz India including the expansion of the production capacity, as
well as a significant extension of the network and the product portfolio. In
2014, Mercedes-Benz India achieved sales history by crossing the five digit
sales number. After six years, Mercedes-Benz today leads the luxury car market
in India and also holds numero uno position in terms of CSI score and
impeccable brand equity in the luxury car segment in India, the release stated.
Eberhard Kern, Managing
Director & CEO, Mercedes-Benz India commented, “It was an enriching and a
humbling ‘India experience’ for me. After heading India operations for three
years, I can confidently state that in my entire three decades of Daimler
career, the stint in India remains the most memorable one. The diversity of
people, their culture and the unique business opportunity and challenges that
India posed is enormous and one of its kind. It is very satisfying to see the
immense growth of Mercedes-Benz in Indiaas our sales volumes nearly doubled
from 2012 to 2015. I am confident that the brand will scale new heights with
the able leadership of Roland. Europe would be a different market altogether,
and my India experience would be quite handy.I appreciate all the invaluable
support that I received from my colleagues in Mercedes-Benz India and also
would like to thank our dealer partners who are the best and the most
professional in the business.”
Roland Folger, currently the
President & CEO of Mercedes-Benz Malaysia stated, “I have worked across
various countries and cultures but have always been fascinated with India as a
nation. India’s rich cultural diversity, its people, their varied customs,
different languages, diverse topography combined with its status as a rising
economic power, makes it one of the most interesting markets to grow the
business today. I feel extremely privileged to head the operations in India,
which is an emerging luxury car market in which Mercedes-Benz is the fastest
growing luxury automotive brand. With my experience across business divisions I
look forward to pursue the ‘India story’ further and make the foundation of
Mercedes-Benz even stronger in this dynamic country. We have one of the finest
teams and dealer partners on-board with us and I am eager to be part of it.”
Source: Mercedes-Benz India