Mercedes promotes marketing executive to steer U.S. sales

Mercedes-Benz USA will promote marketing chief Stephen Cannon to CEO, effective Jan. 1.

Cannon, 50, has been vice president of marketing for Mercedes-Benz USA since June 2007. He will replace Ernst Lieb, 56, who was fired abruptly in October for alleged misuse of company funds.

Cannon is only the second American to become CEO of Mercedes-Benz USA, according to a company spokeswoman. The first was Mike Jackson, who is now CEO of AutoNation Inc.

Herbert Werner, 56, vice president of finance at Mercedes-Benz USA and the only German on the automaker's U.S. executive team, has been serving as interim CEO.

Cannon began his automotive career in 1991 as executive assistant to the president and CEO of Mercedes-Benz of North America.

He later relocated to the automaker's global headquarters in Stuttgart, Germany, and joined a small team assigned with the development, manufacturing and launch of the M-Class.

It was the first Mercedes-Benz SUV ever made in and for the U.S. market.

By Diana Kurylko- Automotive News