CEO of Mercedes Benz to Run a Football Team
Arthur Blank’s stated desire to step back from the day-to-day operations of his businesses, including the Atlanta Falcons, has led him to hire the head of Mercedes-Benz USA to assume many of the owner’s current responsibilities. Blank announced Monday that Stephen Cannon, currently the president and chief executive officer of Mercedes-Benz USA, has been named CEO of AMB Group, the parent company of the Falcons, the Atlanta United soccer team and Blank’s other businesses. Cannon will assume day-to-day leadership of Blank’s for-profit businesses on Feb. 1. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution)
“This is a truly special opportunity for me to move from an iconic brand that I love to a role working with an iconic leader and the diversified Blank Family of Businesses,” Cannon said in a statement. “I made an immediate connection with Arthur because we have very similar value systems and a shared vision for what the customer experience can and should be,” according to AJC.
Daimler AG will replace Cannon with Dietmar Exler. Exler, who is from Austria, is currently Mercedes-Benz USA’s vice president for sales. He also spent several years in Germany as the chief operating officer of Daimler’s financial-services division in Europe. He will also run Mercedes-Benz in Canada and Mexico. The company has 1,500 employees in the U.S. and 1,240 in Canada and Mexico, according to The Wall Street Journal.
Earlier this year, Mercedes-Benz USA moved its U.S. headquarters from Montvale, N.J., to Atlanta, Ga., a move similar to other auto makers who have concentrated operations in southern states, primarily for cost reasons.
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1:00 - 5:00 pm
Over 70% of Executives Surveyed Agree: Many Strategic Planning Efforts Lack Systematic Approach Tips for Enhancing Your Strategic Planning Process
Executives expressed frustration with their current strategic planning process. Issues include:
Steve Rutan and Denise Harrison have put together an afternoon workshop that will provide the tools you need to address these concerns. They have worked with hundreds of executives to develop a systematic approach that will enable your team to make better decisions during strategic planning. Steve and Denise will walk you through exercises for prioritizing your lists and steps that will reset and reinvigorate your process. This will be a hands-on workshop that will enable you to think about your business as you use the tools that are being presented. If you are ready for a Strategic Planning tune-up, select this workshop in your registration form. The additional fee of $695 will be added to your total.
2:00 - 5:00 pm
Female leaders face the same issues all leaders do, but they often face additional challenges too. In this peer session, we will facilitate a discussion of best practices and how to overcome common barriers to help women leaders be more effective within and outside their organizations.
Limited space available.
10:30 - 5:00 pm
General’s Retreat at Hermitage Golf Course
Sponsored by UBS
General’s Retreat, built in 1986 with architect Gary Roger Baird, has been voted the “Best Golf Course in Nashville” and is a “must play” when visiting the Nashville, Tennessee area. With the beautiful setting along the Cumberland River, golfers of all capabilities will thoroughly enjoy the golf, scenery and hospitality.
The golf outing fee includes transportation to and from the hotel, greens/cart fees, use of practice facilities, and boxed lunch. The bus will leave the hotel at 10:30 am for a noon shotgun start and return to the hotel after the cocktail reception following the completion of the round.
