TORONTO -

Because Marcus Breitschwerdt accepted a new company position in the United Kingdom, Daimler AG tapped a new president and chief executive officer for Mercedes-Benz Canada.

Succeeding Breitschwerdt in this role effective today is Tim Reuss, who has been with Daimler for the past 24 years.

Company officials made the decision since Breitschwerdt has taken on the responsibility as president and CEO of Mercedes-Benz UK Limited, one of Daimler’s largest worldwide passenger car, heavy duty truck and van operations.

Daimler recapped that Reuss’ career with the organization has included time successfully holding a number of executive positions at both the company’s head office and in other markets, such as president and CEO of DaimlerChrysler Vans in North Carolina and sales director for business unit vans at Daimler in Stuttgart, Germany. Reuss joins Mercedes-Benz Canada from Italy where he currently heads the Mercedes-Benz corporate retail division in Rome.

“I’m thrilled to join an organization that has shown such significant growth and such important accomplishments over the last eight years under my predecessor’s, Marcus Breitschwerdt leadership and I want to thank Marcus very much for the great legacy he is now handing over to me. It is certainly my clear target together with the great team of Mercedes-Benz Canada employees and dealers to continue this success story,” Reuss declared.

“I am also absolutely thrilled to be relocating to Canada. I consider it an immense opportunity and privilege,” he continued.

During Breitschwerdt’s eight years at the helm of Mercedes-Benz Canada, the company insisted it moved forward in “leaps and bounds, and he can look back on a string of significant achievements.”

The company highlighted that it posted a more than double increase and record-breaking sales of 31,651 units in 2010, a concurrent doubling of market share and the attainment of the No. 1 position among luxury manufacturers in Canada. Daimler also highlighted that Breitschwerdt’s leadership led to the establishment of a benchmark retail network, the successful addition of the smart and Sprinter brands and a record-breaking used-vehicle division to Mercedes-Benz Canada’s portfolio.

As a result, Daimler indicated Mercedes-Benz Canada has had consistent and steady improvement in ratings by dealers, culminating in the top ranking in the 2010 CADA Dealer Satisfaction Survey.

“The more than eight years I have spent in this very competitive market as a part of our great Mercedes-Benz Canada team have been extremely rewarding,” Breitschwerdt shared.

“While I look forward with great excitement to the opportunities and challenges that my new appointment will present, I certainly will always look back fondly at our enriching experiences as a Canadian team,” he went on to say. “In difficult times, we were able to move a lot together. I would like to thank all of our employees and dealers for their unwavering support during my stay at Mercedes-Benz Canada. I am absolutely convinced that this level of success will continue under the leadership of Tim Reuss, whom I want to congratulate and to wish all the very best.”