Ola Källenius is CEO of Mercedes-Benz, one of the world’s most successful and renowned automotive companies with over 160,000 employees and revenues exceeding €130 billion, and is undoubtedly one of the most respected and influential captains of industry and top managers in the global automotive sector.
Prior to his appointment as CEO of Mercedes-Benz, Mr. Källenius served as the firm’s management board member responsible for research and development, having previously overseen sales for Mercedes-Benz Cars within the management board. Before that, he was the divisional board member for sales and vice president of Mercedes-AMG, following a series of diverse leadership roles in Germany, the UK, and the USA. His positions included vice president, president & CEO of Mercedes-Benz U.S. International in Tuscaloosa, USA, executive director of McLaren Automotive in Woking, England, and as director and senior manager in material purchasing in Germany. Mr. Källenius began his career in the international management trainee program at the former Daimler-Benz AG before moving to the company’s controlling division in the USA.
Mr. Källenius studied economics at the Stockholm School of Economics and, as part of the CEMS program, at the University of St. Gallen.