Mercedes-Benz Malaysia has announced a significant leadership change, appointing Nadia Trimmel as the new Vice President of Marketing & Sales for Mercedes-Benz Cars Malaysia & SEA II, effective July 1, 2024. Trimmel’s extensive experience with Mercedes-Benz and other major automotive brands positions her well to lead the company’s marketing and sales operations in the region.

Trimmel began her journey with Mercedes-Benz in 2014 as General Manager of Sales and quickly advanced to Managing Director of Mercedes-Benz Vans South Africa within two and a half years. Her leadership has been pivotal, serving as an integral member of the Mercedes-Benz South Africa Executive Committee since 2017.

In her new role, Trimmel expressed her enthusiasm: “I am thrilled to join the SEA II executive team and look forward to shaping our strategy within the vibrant automotive landscape in Malaysia and the greater SEA II region. Collaborating with the team, our retail partners, and various stakeholders, we aim to strengthen our market position through innovative sales strategies and customer-centric marketing initiatives. With the recent implementation of our new sales operating model, Retail of the Future, I am confident we will set new standards of success for Mercedes-Benz in the region, keeping our customers at the heart of what we do.”

Trimmel holds a bachelor’s degree in Marketing and Economics from the University of the Witwatersrand and an MBA from Manchester Metropolitan University. Her nearly 25-year career in the automotive industry includes key roles in marketing, sales, and aftersales at Ford and Nissan. At Mercedes-Benz, she has driven the success of the Van division and played a critical role in numerous strategic initiatives, product advancements, and process optimizations. Notably, she led South Africa’s transition to the Retail of the Future model for private vans in 2018.

Known for her focus on key performance outcomes, Trimmel has consistently refined the drivers of success through strategic resource optimization. Her leadership style emphasizes fostering a cohesive team environment and achieving high-performance goals that contribute to sustainable business growth.

Trimmel’s appointment follows the transition of the previous incumbent, Bettina Plangger, who will undertake a Strategic Project assignment within Region Overseas in Stuttgart, Germany.