Dianna du Preez (pictured) is settling into a new role as general manager of vehicle distribution and logistics at Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA), replacing Rory Hepner who took up a new role as general manager of strategic retail development in July.
Du Preez was general manager of the Mercedes-Benz Academy and has also held other management roles at the company including in sales, dealer network development, vehicle and parts logistics, and IT. She joined Mercedes-Benz in 1998 through the company’s division in South Africa, before moving to the US in 2007.
In her latest role, she will oversee all retail vehicle distribution, import and logistics, distribution systems allocation and ordering, as well as the company’s vehicle preparation centres in the US, in Baltimore, Los Angeles and Brunswick.
Rory Hepner, who has been with MBUSA for more than 25 years, replaces Greg Gates in her new role, who is leaving to join MBUSA’s retail network. She will oversee the implementation and compliance of all policies, programmes and activities to support MBUSA’s retail direction and objectives, said the company. Hepner has held a variety of management positions, including in corporate counsel, field operations and sales operations.
In other recent moves at MBUSA, Heiko Schmidt has moved to become general manager of the Case division, replacing Harry Hynekamp who has left to pursue other interests. The Case (Connected, Autonomous, Shared & Service and Electric Drive) initiative at the carmaker aims to develop mobility and in-car technology. Schmidt was most recently department manager of product management for the AMG high performance sub-brand.
