Mercedes-Benz USA Reorganizes Executive-Level Sales Operations
17 July 2000
May and Schembri Appointed to VP Sales PostsMONTVALE, N.J. - Mercedes-Benz USA announced the creation of two executive- management-level vice president positions which will jointly handle the company's filed operations. Keith May has been appointed to VP of sales, responsible for the Midwest and Northeast region and Dave Schembri has been appointed to VP of sales, responsible for the West and Southeast region, effective immediately. In these new positions, both May and Schembri will report directly to Paul Halata, president and CEO of MBUSA. As VP Sales (Midwest, Northeast), May will be responsible for the Chicago, Washington and New York Regions and will be located in the New York regional office in Parsippany, N.J. As VP Sales (West, Southeast), Schembri will be responsible for the San Francisco, Los Angeles and Jacksonville Regions and will be located in the Los Angeles regional office. According to Paul Halata, "These appointments underscore our commitment to providing more "on the ground" presence of executive leadership and more high- level resources to our field organization." VP Sales, Midwest, Northeast May brings to MBUSA extensive marketing, wholesales and retail-level experience. Joining the Mercedes-Benz organization in 1985, may has held numerous positions in the UK including product manager for passenger cars; zone sales manager for passenger cars; as well as general sales manager and dealer principal at the retail level. May's most recent position was sales director for DaimlerChrysler UK, where he was responsible for all franchising and commercial relationships between DCUK and the franchised dealer network. May holds a diploma from Acton Technical College in London and a degree in mechanical engineering. Originally from the UK, May and his family are relocating to New Jersey. VP Sales, West, Southeast Schembri joined MBUSA in 1994 and has more than 25 years of automotive experience. His most recent position was general manager, Los Angeles Region, where he was responsible for the region's sales, service, marketing and operations, which encompasses the Southern California area including Hawaii. Previously, Schembri was general manager, New York Region, where he oversaw general regional operations for retailers in the greater New York metropolitan area including New Jersey and southern Connecticut. Schembri began his automotive career in 1975, when he joined American Motors' college graduate training program. In 1979, Schembri joined Volkswagen of America, where he held numerous positions including director of marketing; manager of field operations, sales manager for the company's western region; manager of national sales operations; national business management manager; and director of operations for VW Credit Corporation. Schembri holds a B.S. in Business Administration and an MBA from the University of Detroit. Born and raised in Detroit, Schembri resides in Laguna Niguel, Calif.