Mercedes-Benz's high-performance subsidiary AMG has appointed former Volkswagen head of strategy Stefan Weckbach as its new chief executive from July 1 next year, the company announced on Monday.
Weckbach will also head the Top End Vehicle Group, the segment within Mercedes that includes AMG, Maybach and the G Class, the company said.
Mercedes Chief Technology Officer Jörg Burzer described Weckbach as an outstanding manager, who had demonstrated the ability to drive forward complex vehicle programmes as well as subordinate company and product projects.
The AMG chief executive position is seen as a springboard within Mercedes. Michael Schiebe, who will head AMG until Weckbach takes over, has been production chief on the management board since the beginning of this month. Mercedes board chairman and chief executive Ola Källenius also headed the unit.
AMG equips standard Mercedes models with powerful engines and develops its own high-performance cars. Over the first three quarters, it saw sales rise on the year by 7% to more than 102,500 cars.
Weckbach started at Porsche in 2008, moving to VW headquarters in Wolfsburg in September 2023.
He had been seen as a possible successor to Oliver Blume, who is resigning from his role at the head of VW subsidiary Porsche at the end of the year while remaining chief executive of VW itself.
But in October, the supervisory board appointed former McLaren manager Michael Leiters to head Porsche from the start of next year.