Three-pointed star gets a lady’s touch

The Mercedes-Benz Trucks business unit has a new boss, and she comes with some impressive credentials.

On July 1, Daimler Trucks & Buses (DT&B) Southern Africa welcomed Maretha Gerber as the new head of Mercedes-Benz Trucks for southern Africa.

Gerber has held several leadership positions within Mercedes-Benz South Africa (MBSA) and brings with her a combination of retail experience within sales and marketing in various roles, as well as leadership skills.

“Maretha is no stranger to the automotive sector and she has proved that she is invaluable to any team she has been a part of. Mercedes-Benz Trucks was looking for someone who displays leadership, is always innovating and who will ensure all its offerings continue to be the best. Maretha ticks all of these boxes, and more!” comments Jasper Hafkamp, executive director of DT&B Southern Africa.

After completing a Bachelor of Commerce in Marketing, Gerber joined the Mercedes-Benz group in 2000 as a key-account manager. She went on to occupy several other managerial positions in the sales, dealer-network strategy and marketing areas.

In 2015, she became the dealer principal of Mercedes-Benz Rosebank, in Johannesburg, where she successfully contributed to its growth.

“With her combination of retail experience within sales and marketing in various roles, as well as her leadership skills, she is the ideal person to lead the Mercedes-Benz Trucks organisation in southern Africa,” Hafkamp adds.

The new head of Mercedes-Benz Trucks says: “I am extremely excited to have been appointed in such a critical position and I know that, with such a dynamic team, we are going to ensure Mercedes-Benz Trucks remains market leader in the different segments in which it operates.”

Gerber’s appointment comes at an exciting time for Mercedes-Benz Trucks; the company having just launched its all-new Actros models into the extra-heavy commercial vehicle segment – while other exciting models are on the cards for their local debut, including the all-new Arocs model for the competitive construction and mining segments.

The FOCUS team wishes Gerber all the best of luck in her new role!