Ola Källenius

Sten Ola Källenius serves as Chairman of the Board of Management and CEO of Mercedes-Benz Group AG, making history as the first non-German executive to lead the prestigious automotive company before obtaining German citizenship. Born in Sweden in 1969, Källenius has been instrumental in transforming Mercedes-Benz into a leader in electric mobility and sustainable luxury. Under his visionary leadership since May 2019, he has spearheaded a comprehensive electrification strategy, investing over $12 billion in electric vehicle development and positioning Mercedes-Benz to become fully electric by 2030 and carbon-neutral by 2039. His strategic acumen is evident in his successful turnaround of Daimler's financial performance, returning the company to profitability in 2020 after facing significant challenges in 2019. Throughout his 30-year career at Mercedes-Benz, Källenius has demonstrated exceptional leadership across diverse roles, from Formula 1 operations to global sales leadership, where he increased vehicle volumes by an average of 12% annually. His commitment to innovation extends beyond electrification to autonomous driving technologies and digitalization initiatives. Recognized with numerous accolades including 'CEO of the Year' by Automotive News Europe (2019), 'Person of the Year' by Autocar magazine (2020), and induction into the Automotive Hall of Fame (2022), Källenius embodies forward-thinking leadership. His multilingual capabilities, strategic vision, and deep understanding of global markets have established him as one of the most influential executives in the automotive industry, successfully balancing luxury heritage with cutting-edge technology and environmental responsibility.