Karin Rådström appointed to run Mercedes-Benz Trucks
Daimler AG has appointed Karin Rådström to take charge of its Mercedes-Benz truck division.
She took up her position as Member of the Board of Management, Daimler Truck AG, responsible for its subsidiary Mercedes-Benz Trucks, on 1 February.
"We are very pleased to welcome Karin to our global leadership team. She has a wealth of international experience in the commercial vehicles industry and a proven track record in shaping a customer-focused sales organisation and brand experience," said Martin Daum, Chairman of the Board of Management Daimler Truck AG and Member of the Board of Management of Daimler AG, in a statement. Mercedes-Benz Trucks is part of the Daimler Trucks division.
In an industry dominated by men, Rådström’s appointment – succeeding Stefan Buchner, who retired in October 2020 – makes her the third woman to join the company’s Board of Management. Daimler AG already has two women on its Board of Management. Renata Jungo Brüngger, appointed 1 January 2016, is responsible for Integrity and Legal Affairs. She is also a Member of the Board of Management of Mercedes-Benz AG. Britta Seeger, a Member of the Board of Management of Daimler AG since 1 January 2017, is responsible for Mercedes-Benz Cars Marketing and Sales. She is also a Member of the Board of Management of Mercedes-Benz AG and the Supervisory Board of Daimler Mobility AG.
Mary Barra made history as the first female CEO of a global vehicle manufacturer, General Motors, in January 2014. However, her impact spreads beyond the automotive industry. Barra is listed second in Fortune’s Most Powerful Women in Business 2020, and sixth on Forbes’ The World’s Most Powerful Women 2020 list. She was named by Time Magazine as one of its 100 Most Influential People in the World in 2014.
Elena Ford is the Chief Customer Experience Officer at Ford Motor Company and the first female Ford family member to hold an executive position at the vehicle manufacturer. She joined Ford in 1995 and has previously worked in marketing, brand strategy and business management roles, and is now also responsible for integrating the work of Ford Customer Service Division, the Quality organisation, Sales and Marketing, and the global dealer network.
Born in Sweden, Rådström started at commercial vehicle manufacturer Scania as a trainee in 2004 after graduating with a Master of Engineering in Industrial Management from the KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm. Since 2007, she has held various managerial positions within Scania’s sales and service organisation, including Head of the company’s bus and coach business as well as starting up the connected vehicle business.