Mercedes appoints UK boss

DaimlerChrysler has promoted Mercedes corporate sales director Nick Ratcliffe to UK marketing director of the car brand. He replaces general manager for passenger car marketing Simon Oldfield, who has been promoted to national sales director.

As general manager for car marketing, Oldfield had been the marque’s top UK marketer since his appointment in 1998 (MW March 26, 1998). He was responsible for last year’s “Lucky Star” campaign, created by Campbell Doyle Dye.

Ratcliffe, who starts his new job this week, will have direct responsibility for Mercedes passenger cars as well as supervising the marketing of the super-luxury Maybach brand and Smart city cars.

Prior to being appointed corporate sales director, Ratcliffe was product marketing manager for Mercedes in the UK.

Both Ratcliffe and Oldfield will report to DaimlerChrysler UK president and chief executive officer Wilfried Steffen, who replaced Joachim Eberhardt when he left to head marketing for Chrysler in the US in June (MW June 5).

At next month’s Frankfurt Motor Show, the company will formally launch its SLR McLaren supercar. In June, Mercedes launched the E-class estate and CLK cabriolet in the UK. These will be followed by a new version of the Vaneo, its large multi-purpose vehicle, later this year.