Gary Savage is to retire from Mercedes-Benz Cars in the UK in June 2024 after 14 years with the business, the last decade spent serving as managing director.
Karl Schregle, head of Europe, Mercedes-Benz, said: “Under Gary’s leadership Mercedes-Benz in the UK has gone from strength to strength over the past 14 years. Gary’s insightful, collaborative approach, partnering with our network, along with his positive leadership of the UK team, enabled us to successfully launch Agency Model D in the UK in January 2023.
“On a personal note, I have always valued the different perspectives that Gary brings to the business. I would like to thank him for his tireless efforts, outstanding contribution and excellent results and wish him a very happy and healthy retirement.”
In a 2017 interview with AM, Savage advised his franchisees that the long term future would bring OEM direct sales; six years later, true to his word, the Mercedes-Benz UK network adopted the agency model.
With effect from 1 March, Olivier Reppert will join the UK team, as Savage’s successor.
Olivier Reppert began his career at DaimlerChrysler as an after sales product manager in 1998 and three years later he moved to DC Overseas in Stuttgart to be a manager for after sales marketing. From 2004 to 2008 he directed the dealer network development at MB Schweiz.
Returning to Stuttgart, he became responsible for leading the MB regional strategy for China and Russia as part of the global business management and in 2010 he joined the sales department at smart and assumed the leadership for smart Germany in 2013. In November 2014, Olivier was promoted to global head of brand, product management & sales at smart.
From October 2016 he served as the CEO of car2go and since February 2019 has been the CEO of Share Now.