Gary Savage while at Audi.

Gary Savage is to take over from Dermot Kelly as managing director of Mercedes-Benz Cars at the end of June 2010. Kelly is retiring.

Savage, 48, was most recently managing director of Citroen UK, which he only joined a year ago on 16 June. His appointment at the French company, which was unusual for a Brit, followed the promotion of Xavier Duchemin to head of marketing and communications in Paris.

VW group

Savage has a wealth of UK and European sales experience, having been most recently head of marketing and brand development for Audi in Russia. Previously in the UK he held a variety of senior roles including head of sales and marketing within Volkswagen group’s UK operations along with senior positions in Seat and Audi, where he was head of operations for Audi UK. 

Sales volumes

Commenting on the appointment, Mercedes-Benz UK president and chief executive officer Wilfried Steffen said: ‘Gary Savage has consistently delivered significant business results in all his previous roles and firmly established his professional reputation within our sector.  His role will be to lead the delivery of our passenger car strategy, working with his team to maximise sales volumes in the UK and champion the highest-quality customer service, retailer professionalism and brand values.’

He added: ‘Dermot Kelly has played a major part in driving forward the Mercedes-Benz passenger car strategy, making Mercedes-Benz and Smart the successful brands they are today.  I would like to wish Dermot well and at the same time welcome Gary to the company.’

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