Porsche Announces New Canadian Subsidiary and Leadership

TORONTO--Porsche today announced the appointment of Christian Marti to the position of Chief Executive Officer for the newly structured Porsche Cars Canada, Ltd. The decision to create the new entity with a designated leadership is intended to address the distinct needs of Canada’s marketing, sales and service and provide full importer status.

“By establishing a stronger and completely devoted organization led by Christian Marti, we are formally recognizing Canada to be an important market for our brand with unlimited potential for success,” said Peter Schwarzenbauer, president and CEO of Porsche Cars North America (PCNA). “We believe this change will result in increased growth and improved service for both our existing and future customers, as well as for our dealers.”

Porsche Cars Canada was previously part of PCNA with Canada and the United States sharing responsibility for combined regional results. Now, as a separate subsidiary with dedicated leadership, Porsche Cars Canada will have complete market and financial accountability as an independent importer reporting directly to Porsche headquarters in Stuttgart, Germany. This change takes place immediately.

As the subsidiary’s new CEO, Marti, 41, brings a wealth of industry experience to lead Porsche’s expanded Canadian presence. He began his career in 1993 with BMW as a Sales and Marketing Trainee, quickly moving up the ranks two years later to Product Manager overseeing the Company’s Z3 and Z8 models. From there, Marti served as Product Director of the Laguna and Escape lines for Renault Deutschland. From 2002 to 2005, during his tenure with Jaguar and Land Rover, Marti progressively moved from Managing Director in Austria and Croatia to General Manager overseeing Implementation Sales and Market Introduction of Jaguar and Land Rover in China. Later, as Jaguar’s Managing Director in France, the position he held most recently before joining Porsche, Marti ran day-to-day operations, including sales and marketing, product development and customer service.

“Christian has a proven track record for success in managing high-end luxury brands,” Schwarzenbauer noted. “I have complete confidence he will provide the leadership Porsche needs for continued growth and success in our essential Canadian market.”

Last calendar year, Porsche enjoyed an overall sales record of 1,987 cars sold in Canada in 2007, a 6 percent increase above the previous year when sales were 1,868.

Porsche Cars North America, Inc. (PCNA), based in Atlanta, GA, and, Porsche Cars Canada, Ltd. (PCC) in Mississauga, Ontario, are the two importers of Porsche sports cars and Cayenne sport utility vehicles for the United States and Canada respectively. They are wholly owned, indirect subsidiaries of Dr. Ing.h.c. F. Porsche AG. Combined, PCNA and PCC employ approximately 250 people who provide Porsche vehicles, parts, service, marketing and training for its 200 U.S. and 12 Canadian dealers. They, in turn, provide Porsche owners with best-in-class service.