Mercedes-Benz Names New Head of Van Life
Mercedes-Benz USA announced the elevation of Nicolette Lambrechts to vice-president and managing director of sales and marketing for Mercedes-Benz vans, effective May 1st. Underscoring the van life movement, sales, marketing, service, and parts for the entire segment is under Lambrechts’ purview.
After Germany, the U.S. is the largest market for Mercedes Sprinter vans, and Lambrechts ascended to the position after joining Mercedes-Benz USA as the general manager of van sales in October 2019. Credited with building a sales team, implementing processes and strategies, and growing sales in this market, Lambrechts is off to a running start. Dealer experience is critical in any sales position, and her ability to build on relationships already established will likely be the cornerstone to her success going forward.
Marcus Breitschwerdt, executive vice-president of Mercedes-Benz AG and Head of Mercedes-Benz Vans said, “We are pleased that Nicolette Lambrechts will take over the position as head of sales and marketing of Mercedes-Benz Vans USA. With her years of international experience in the field of sales and marketing, we’re confident she will further develop our van business.”
Joining Mercedes-Benz South Africa in 2001 as a graduate trainee, Lambrechts moved to Chrysler Jeep as a sales planner in 2002 and received a promotion to commercial vehicles distribution and logistics manager in 2004. From 2008 to 2014, Nicolette served as national sales manager and brand manager for Mercedes-Benz vans in South Africa. In 2014, she was elevated to van division managing director for Mercedes-Benz South Africa.
Leaving the African continent in 2017, Lambrechts came to North America to assume the position of managing director, Mercedes-Benz Vans Canada. With Sprinter sales at an all-time high in the U.S., she could not be in a better place as long as production can keep up with the demand by individual consumers as well as commercial accounts.
[Images: © 2021 J. Sakurai/TTAC, Mercedes-Benz USA]
With a father who owned a dealership, I literally grew up in the business. After college, I worked for GM, Nissan and Mazda, writing articles for automotive enthusiast magazines as a side gig. I discovered you could make a living selling ad space at Four Wheeler magazine, before I moved on to selling TV for the National Hot Rod Association. After that, I started Roadhouse, a marketing, advertising and PR firm dedicated to the automotive, outdoor/apparel, and entertainment industries. Through the years, I continued writing, shooting, and editing. It keep things interesting.
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1. Just give us the link to the press release and save everyone a lot work. 2. Maybe pass articles to each other and proof read them? 3. Mercedes "Van Life"? Not until they have fleet sales in Elkhart, IN.
Nicolette has the appearance of someone who has quite a bit of experience living in a van, so best of luck to her.