The Mercedes logo. The Mercedes logo.
Daimler, the German automaker, announced on Monday that Hansgeorg Niefer, currently chief executive officer of Mercedes-Benz South Africa, will take over as head of the Mercedes-Benz plant in Berlin, effective May 1, 2011.
Also effective May 1, Martin Zimmermann, currently head of Daimler Strategy & Alliances, will succeed Niefer as CEO of Mercedes-Benz South Africa (MBSA).
Niefer joined Daimler in 1981 as a technical apprentice.
After completing his engineering studies in 1986, he took on various assignments with increasing responsibilities in engine production and development. In 2002, he took over as head of the Mercedes-Benz plant in East London. Since 2005, he has been responsible for the Daimler group's activities in the country as head of MBSA.
Zimmermann joined Daimler in 2000. From 2001 through 2003, he headed the Product & Process Strategy unit of the commercial vehicles business and subsequently took over as Head of Daimler Strategy & Alliances with responsibility for the strategy of the group and its divisions.
With sales of 22,300 passenger cars in 2010 (+16 percent compared to 2009), MBSA ranked as the market leader in the premium segment, it said in a statement. -- Ellis Mnyandu