FRANKFURT -- Mercedes-Benz has named Jan Madeja, formerly the brand's head of Russia, as its new sales boss in China.
Madeja is succeeded in Russia by Holger Suffel, who was most recently in charge of parent Daimler's global services and parts operations.
The appointments are part of a wider shuffle at Mercedes that has seen Nicholas Speeks, who served as the brand's China sales boss for six years, named as incoming U.S. CEO. All the appointments take effect September 1.
The changes come as parent Daimler prepares to hand control to incoming CEO Ola Kallenius after the company's annual general meeting on May 22.
Madeja is a Mercedes veteran, having spent more than 20 years at the brand. After occupying various positions in finance and controlling, the 51-year-old executive took over as head of Mercedes in Poland in 2007. In 2012, he became CEO of Mercedes-Benz Russia and head of Mercedes-Benz Cars sales in the market.
Suffel, 59, began his career with the former company Daimler-Benz in 1981, holding various management positions in marketing, aftersales, commercial vehicles sales and within Daimler's subsidiary EvoBus, before taking up his most recent role at Daimler.
Madeja takes control of China at a turbulent time as demand in the world's No. 1 market falls and the trade war with the U.S. shows no sign of cooling.
Last month, the brand's sales in China rose 0.8 percent to 57,707 vehicles, just ahead of nearest rival BMW, whose registrations rose 18 percent to 56,450. Audi sales fell 12 percent to 46,364.
