Mercedes-Benz China Shakes Up Leadership: Duan Jianjun Departs, Jörg Burzer Takes Over as Sales CEO

Mercedes-Benz China recently announced a significant leadership reshuffle. Duan Jianjun, President and CEO of Beijing Mercedes-Benz Sales Service Co., Ltd., will step down for personal reasons and transition to the role of Strategic Advisor effective March 1, 2026, supporting the handover process until April 30, 2026. Li Desi, currently Executive Vice President of Sales, will succeed him as President and CEO, effective March 1, 2026. Additionally, Zhang Mingxia will assume the role of Executive Vice President of Sales on April 1, 2026; she previously served as Global Chief Marketing Officer of smart. Kang Yi will move to the smart joint venture, taking on the roles of Global Chief Marketing Officer and Chairman of the European Supervisory Board. This leadership adjustment aims to strengthen Mercedes-Benz’s strategic positioning in China by leveraging local talent and industrial chain advantages to continuously enhance product competitiveness and customer experience.