Personnel: New DS Automobiles brand director

Personnel: New DS Automobiles brand director

DS Autombiles is now present on the Austrian market with eight locations, two of which are new car dealerships in Vienna and Wels. A third new car dealership location will open its doors in Graz in autumn 2019. Marc de Kergariou will now lead the brand independently as “Director Brand DS Automobiles” from July 1, 2019. Until now, the brand in Austria was supported by the Citroën sales organization. 

Ian Hucker, Managing Director of the Peugeot, Citroën, DS Automobiles and Opel brands in Austria and Switzerland, said: "DS Automobiles is a very interesting premium brand with a lot of development potential. However, the brand needs time to really establish itself well in the premium segment. This is a process that will take a few years. But the brand is now strong enough in Austria to be able to expand its organizational structure. With Marc der Kergstiou we have an experienced one Sales and marketing professional hired who will further advance the brand.”

Marc de Kergariou, Director of DS Automobiles, said: "The young premium brand DS Automobiles will expand its model portfolio over the next few years to a total of six models, all of which will also be offered electrified. At the same time, from 2025 we will only offer electrified models, as a 100% electric model or as a plug-in hybrid. This means that there will no longer be a model with a pure combustion engine. And now is the time when we are changing our sales structures step by step expand and prepare for the electric age.”

Marc de Kergariou builds on extensive sales and marketing experience in France, Germany, India, Croatia, Iran, Switzerland and Austria. Most recently, since December 2016, he has been responsible for marketing for the Peugeot brand in Austria and Switzerland. His successor will be announced in the next few weeks.