Mercedes-Benz Vans’ Charleston production site to get new CEO

A pair of appointments on the international stage for Mercedes-Benz means a new head of the company’s South Carolina production plant.

The company said in a news release that Axel Bense, the current CEO and president of Charleston’s Mercedes-Benz Vans LLC will leave the Lowcountry to a new role as CEO of the company’s facility in Jawor, Poland. Johannes Kellerman will succeed Bense as CEO of the Charleston plant, which is located in Ladson.

Bense joined DaimlerChrysler AG in 1999 and has since held various leadership positions across multiple locations, including Bremen, Germany; Tuscaloosa, Ala., and Naberezhnye Chelny in the Republic of Tatarstan in Russia, according to a news release. His notable achievements include spearheading the construction of the new pain shop in Tuscaloosa and leading the establishment of Mercedes-Benz Manufacturing RUS in Moscow.

Since April 2022 he has contributed to stabilizing production at the Charleston plant, the release stated.

“We thank Axel for his tireless efforts to improve the operational performance of the Charleston plant and are confident he will bring the same dedication to Jawor,” Francesco Ciancia, head of Mercedes-Benz Vans Operations, said in the release.

Kellerman will take over as CEO of Mercedes-Benz Vans in Charleston on March 1, when Bense’s appointment in Jawor becomes effective.

Kellerman has held various strategic roles since joining the company in 2009, most recently as head of Operational Excellence, Digitalization, Lean & Green within Van Operations, as well as head of operations at Mercedes-Benz in Ludwigsfelde, Germany.

Related: US-based international automakers outproduced the Big 3 in 2023

Related: Auto plant, vegetable cannery break ground with partnership

His experience in streamlining processes and leading strategic projects will be crucial in driving the Charleston plant forward, the company said in the release.

“We are delighted to welcome Johannes to this vital role,” Ciancia said in the release. “His extensive expertise will ensure that Mercedes-Benz Vans LLC continues to thrive in an increasingly competitive market.”

The plant in Ladson produces Sprinter vans and eSprinter vans for the U.S. and Canadian markets.

The company has invested $500 million in the new Sprinter plant, which opened in 2018. Vans have been assembled in North Charleston since 2006, according to the release. The facility today provides 1,700 jobs and supports at least 600 additional jobs in the region through its suppliers.

In 2023 workers at the plant assembled a site record of 50,000 vans, the company says. After Germany, the United States is the second largest market for Sprinter vans.