Amanda Zhang is joining McManes Automotive Partners following a 23-year international career with Mercedes-Benz, marking a return to Alberta for the automotive executive.
Zhang most recently served as CEO and board chair of Mercedes-Benz Malaysia and head of the company’s Southeast Asia region. During her tenure, she led the introduction of the region’s first direct-to-consumer sales model, along with efforts focused on profitability and electric vehicle adoption.
Her appointment brings experience from several markets to McManes, an automotive group with dealerships in Alberta and British Columbia. The company says it operates 20 locations representing 14 brands.
Before her role in Malaysia, Zhang was CEO of Mercedes-Benz Romania, where her work included modernizing the retail network. She also helped establish a pan-European Salesforce CRM hub, which was completed in 14 months.
Earlier in her career, Zhang served as head of marketing communications for Mercedes-Benz Europe and held a series of senior management positions covering sales and marketing functions at Mercedes-Benz’s global headquarters in Germany.
Zhang is also returning to familiar territory. She earned a bachelor of commerce with distinction from the University of Alberta and completed a scholarship exchange program at Sophia University in Japan. She later attended an advanced executive leadership program at IMD in Switzerland. She is fluent in English, German and Mandarin.
According to her executive bio, Zhang is returning to Alberta to be closer to family and plans to bring her international automotive retail experience to her new role with McManes Automotive Partners.
