Porsche has named a new president and CEO for its North American division. The role will now fall to Klaus Zellmer, named by the executive board back in Stuttgart, and slated to take effect at the beginning of November.
Zellmer's appointment is just the latest round in an ongoing game of musical chairs (or Reise nach Jerusalem as the Germans call it for some reason) underway in the Volkswagen Group at large and in the Porsche division specifically. In the wake of the diesel emissions scandal, Porsche CEO Matthias Müller was promoted to replace Martin Winterkorn as head of the entire group. Porsche's own production chief Oliver Blume was named as Müller's replacement. Sales and marketing chief Bernhard Maier moved to the Czech Republic to run Škoda, and Detlev von Platen – who served until now as the president and CEO of Porsche Cars North America – was recalled to Stuttgart to take Maier's place. Now Zellmer has been named as von Platen's successor in Atlanta.
Schooled in Germany, the UK, and the US, Zellmer has until now been responsible for overseas and emerging markets for the company. In that capacity he's overseen regional operations in Asia-Pacific, South America, the Middle East, and Africa, as well as Australia, Japan, and Korea. He previously ran operations in Porsche's home market, where he nearly double the company's sales in less than five years. Of course his appointment means that Porsche will in turn need to name a new executive to oversee those oversees markets, but this is about as far as we'll be chasing the ripple effect.
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Zellmer's appointment is just the latest round in an ongoing game of musical chairs (or Reise nach Jerusalem as the Germans call it for some reason) underway in the Volkswagen Group at large and in the Porsche division specifically. In the wake of the diesel emissions scandal, Porsche CEO Matthias Müller was promoted to replace Martin Winterkorn as head of the entire group. Porsche's own production chief Oliver Blume was named as Müller's replacement. Sales and marketing chief Bernhard Maier moved to the Czech Republic to run Škoda, and Detlev von Platen – who served until now as the president and CEO of Porsche Cars North America – was recalled to Stuttgart to take Maier's place. Now Zellmer has been named as von Platen's successor in Atlanta.
Schooled in Germany, the UK, and the US, Zellmer has until now been responsible for overseas and emerging markets for the company. In that capacity he's overseen regional operations in Asia-Pacific, South America, the Middle East, and Africa, as well as Australia, Japan, and Korea. He previously ran operations in Porsche's home market, where he nearly double the company's sales in less than five years. Of course his appointment means that Porsche will in turn need to name a new executive to oversee those oversees markets, but this is about as far as we'll be chasing the ripple effect.
Related Video:
Klaus Zellmer to lead Porsche Cars North America
Detlev von Platen to join Porsche AG Executive Board as new member responsible for global Sales and Marketing
ATLANTA, Oct. 13, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Porsche AG's Executive Board appointed Klaus Zellmer as new President and Chief Executive Officer of Porsche Cars North America, Inc. (PCNA), effective November 1, 2015.
PCNA's current President and Chief Executive Officer, Detlev von Platen, will relocate from Atlanta to Porsche headquarters in Stuttgart, Germany to assume his new role as Executive Board member responsible for global Sales and Marketing, also effective November 1, 2015. He succeeds Bernhard Maier, who was appointed Chairman of the Board of Management for SKODA in the Czech Republic.
Mr. von Platen has led PCNA since 2008. Under his leadership North America remained the most important market for Porsche worldwide. New vehicle deliveries in the United States nearly doubled from 26,000 units in recession year 2008 to a record-setting 47,000 units in 2014. In 2009, he successfully introduced the Panamera sports sedan to the North American market, followed in 2014 by the equally successful Macan compact sports SUV. At the same time, Mr. von Platen significantly expanded Porsche's market presence in the United States.
In May of this year, PCNA opened its new $100 million Porsche Experience Center and headquarters in Atlanta, the largest investment ever for the sports car manufacturer outside Germany. The facility, an industry-first in North America, is complete with a driver development track and a state-of-the-art business center. A second Porsche Experience Center is due to open in Los Angeles in 2016. Numerous motorsport victories and the renowned Porsche Rennsport Reunion event, the most recent gathering attracting nearly 60,000 participants, solidified the brand among automotive enthusiasts across the world.
Mr. Zellmer was named head of Overseas and Emerging Markets earlier this year. He is currently responsible for Porsche subsidiaries in Australia, Japan and Korea, and the sports car manufacturer's regional offices in Asia-Pacific, South America, the Middle East and Africa. Previously, from 2010 until early 2015, he was Managing Director of Porsche Germany and grew sales from 13,000 units to 24,000 units in Porsche's home market.
"I have known Klaus Zellmer for many years and am very pleased to have a seasoned sales and marketing expert succeed me as head of Porsche Cars North America," said von Platen. "His track record and can-do attitude make him a perfect fit for our U.S. sales organization."
Mr. Zellmer studied Business Administration in Germany, Great Britain and the United States. He will report to Mr. von Platen. In turn, Mr. von Platen will be named Chairman of the Board of Directors Porsche Cars North America, Inc.
Detlev von Platen to join Porsche AG Executive Board as new member responsible for global Sales and Marketing
ATLANTA, Oct. 13, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Porsche AG's Executive Board appointed Klaus Zellmer as new President and Chief Executive Officer of Porsche Cars North America, Inc. (PCNA), effective November 1, 2015.
PCNA's current President and Chief Executive Officer, Detlev von Platen, will relocate from Atlanta to Porsche headquarters in Stuttgart, Germany to assume his new role as Executive Board member responsible for global Sales and Marketing, also effective November 1, 2015. He succeeds Bernhard Maier, who was appointed Chairman of the Board of Management for SKODA in the Czech Republic.
Mr. von Platen has led PCNA since 2008. Under his leadership North America remained the most important market for Porsche worldwide. New vehicle deliveries in the United States nearly doubled from 26,000 units in recession year 2008 to a record-setting 47,000 units in 2014. In 2009, he successfully introduced the Panamera sports sedan to the North American market, followed in 2014 by the equally successful Macan compact sports SUV. At the same time, Mr. von Platen significantly expanded Porsche's market presence in the United States.
In May of this year, PCNA opened its new $100 million Porsche Experience Center and headquarters in Atlanta, the largest investment ever for the sports car manufacturer outside Germany. The facility, an industry-first in North America, is complete with a driver development track and a state-of-the-art business center. A second Porsche Experience Center is due to open in Los Angeles in 2016. Numerous motorsport victories and the renowned Porsche Rennsport Reunion event, the most recent gathering attracting nearly 60,000 participants, solidified the brand among automotive enthusiasts across the world.
Mr. Zellmer was named head of Overseas and Emerging Markets earlier this year. He is currently responsible for Porsche subsidiaries in Australia, Japan and Korea, and the sports car manufacturer's regional offices in Asia-Pacific, South America, the Middle East and Africa. Previously, from 2010 until early 2015, he was Managing Director of Porsche Germany and grew sales from 13,000 units to 24,000 units in Porsche's home market.
"I have known Klaus Zellmer for many years and am very pleased to have a seasoned sales and marketing expert succeed me as head of Porsche Cars North America," said von Platen. "His track record and can-do attitude make him a perfect fit for our U.S. sales organization."
Mr. Zellmer studied Business Administration in Germany, Great Britain and the United States. He will report to Mr. von Platen. In turn, Mr. von Platen will be named Chairman of the Board of Directors Porsche Cars North America, Inc.
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