Mazda Makes Executive Changes

Since Josef Schmid was appointed president and managing director of Mazda Germany, starting August 1, 2009, Jerome de Haan will be the new regional director of Mazda’s 15-country Central and South East European Organisation.

Philip J. Waring, chief operating officer at Mazda Motor Europe, says he has high confidence in both managers’ abilities.

“Throughout his career, Joe [Josef Schimd] has always provided a clarity and concise approach to his management style, with a clear focus on the essential elements for building a successful business. We are confident that this will translate into success in Germany,” said Waring.

Josef Schmid, 58, is one of Mazda’s and the Austrian automotive industry’s most experienced executives. He has held various positions for the company in Austria since 1973, beginning as PR and marketing manager. Later, he was a pioneer in developing the CSEE markets, and since 2006 he was the regional director of the 15-country Mazda Central and South East Europe organisation, based in Klagenfurt.

During this time, he was able to increase the popularity of the Mazda brand, and build "an international, multi-cultural company."

“He [Jerome de Haan] did a good job for us as Managing Director in Switzerland, a competitive and multi-lingual market. This, and his other positions at Mazda, gives him the knowledge he needs to successfully manage an international group of Mazda organisations and independent distributors,” Waring added.

Mr. de Haan, 50, held various management positions in the automotive industry in Europe, before joining Mazda Motor Europe in 2003 as director of distributor operations.

In 2004, he was appointed managing director of Mazda Suisse, where he was instrumental in increasing sales and Mazda’s market share to 3 percent. Most recently, he was regional director, selected markets & independent distributors at company headquarters in Leverkusen.