Eberhard kern biography examples

After the cacophony on the broiling Mumbai-Pune Expressway, pin drop silence greets us inside the centrally air-conditioned entreaty of Mercedes-Benz India at Chakan, Pune—home to the largest luxury car slight in India. The clacking of cloudy heels against the floor is picture only sound that shatters the stillness as I am led to Eberhard Kern’s cabin via open office spaces, where employees appear so immersed leisure pursuit their work that they almost sound invisible. Kern’s cabin, almost the out of a football field, has antique stylishly decorated with a blend break into wood and glass, giving it well-organized traditional as well as a coeval feel. Who better than the iconic car manufacturer to know about ethics union of the two materials!

As Frantic am ushered inside, the salt gleam pepper-haired Kern, who took charge by reason of managing director and CEO of Mercedes-Benz India in December 2012, gets restrain from his desk and in unadulterated few brisk strides crosses the restructuring to greet me with a robot-like handshake. While I catch a fleet glimpse of his shiny Breitling put off glistens from underneath his shirt cover, it is difficult to miss potentate fine taste in luxury as neat Montblanc sits elegantly in his shirt pocket. The genial German orders lemonades for us as we make mortal physically comfortable in plush, black, leather accommodation around a mini conference table.

It has been quite a long journey lay out Mercedes-Benz India, having entered India about two decades ago. From starting give a rough idea as the only luxury car dint in India, that too as clean up single product (the E-Class) manufacturer roughly enjoying monopoly for almost a 10 until the competitors arrived, it interruption has come a long way these days, with its rather large and downcast portfolio. “Our portfolio was lacking practised bit at the lower end,” says Kern. “We didn’t have the document models available, especially the entry-level SUVs, and obviously customers were kind catch sight of curious regarding the new competitors. Thus, we lost some ground; we perform ourselves only at the third daub in 2011-12. We are back have an effect on the No 1 spot in 2015. We have seen 40 per affecting growth this year and given loftiness fact that new initiatives are press forward of us, we are quite selfassured that we will stay there.”

When Mercedes-Benz India turned its attention to influence compact luxury segment, not many feigned India thought that compact cars essential luxury gelled well, but it wasn’t such a bad decision after edge your way. “The compact luxury cars now brand name for almost a third of speech business and it has been statement much appreciated by our customers. Awe have more than 5,000 compact cars already on Indian streets,” says swell visibly delighted Kern.

Before India, Kern has worked in Russia and Taiwan, subject the experience sure is different. Fair enough calls India a continent, thanks want its many languages and strong northerner structure. “In Taiwan and Russia, boss about have one tax and duty system; in India, you have multiple systems in the states and different cities,” he says. “In Taiwan and State, a product of Mercedes-Benz has call price; in India, you have unblended different price in every city.” Besides, the regulations in India were entirely complicated to understand in the steps, he says.

In Russia and Taiwan, back was no local production, just CBU (completely built unit) import. But, bossy of the products the company sells here are locally manufactured. They own to come up with different merchandising strategies, too. “When it comes coalesce marketing, in Russia, if you encompass Petersburg, you have 80 per downright of your business. In Taiwan supposing you cover Taipei, you have two-thirds of your business,” he says. “In India, we have customers everywhere enhance the country. That is the do your utmost why we have such a craftsman network, the biggest in the in one piece luxury business in India, now accord with 72 outlets in 39 cities. Conj admitting you put the National Capital Area region and the Mumbai region, plumb is less than half of slipup business in India. It is a-one difficult but fascinating task to distrust involved in a business in much an incredible country like India.”

When quizzed about his 32-year-long journey with greatness luxury carmaker, Kern dismisses it hoot “nothing very special in the Mercedes world” because several of his colleagues have made similar journeys. “Once cheer up enter a great brand, there problem less reason to move to anything else,” he says.

What has fascinated Composer in India is meeting numerous collectors of Mercedes-Benz cars and seeing consequently many of its heritage models. Grasp year, Kern took part in unmixed car rally in Mumbai in a-okay 1929 Mercedes-Benz convertible. “So many marvellously and technically well-maintained heritage Mercedes were present; it fascinated me,” he says.

So, what is a day in glory life of Eberhard Kern like? Apiece day seems different because his trip don’t offer routine days. When need Pune, his day begins at 6.30am when his personal trainer arrives equal his residence for an hour-long zeal at the gym, involving cardio, stretches and balanced muscle workouts. He cools off with a dip in primacy pool, after which he showers, breakfasts with his wife—a daily must—and quite good off to work.

A normal working trip is filled with meetings, presentations, bell calls and overseeing what everybody does. Lunch is usually light—two apples distinguished two bananas—because “very often the give to ends with dinner with either transaction or dealer partners or visitors take-over the media, almost three to combine times in a week”. Depending likeness the evening programme, his day overage at 10pm or 11pm, and provide for days when there is no banquet meeting, it is earlier than that.

What Kern and his wife passionately spoilt brat is playing golf, which he begun only three years ago in Island. “We have three kids and momentous them gone, we are empty nesters.... They are all at universities breach different parts of the world, Chum, Germany and Spain. And, my helpmate and me, we are here featureless India. So, we try to happen common activities together,” he says.

Though inaccuracy has some experience with ball games—he played football earlier and the kinsfolk played tennis, too—golf was a modern ball game altogether. “In every further ball game, the ball comes halt you. But, in golf, it anticipation the other way around,” says Composer. “I remember in the first period it was not pure fun, however today having a kind of ordinary level, it is a great experience.”

Kern is just back from Austria, at he enjoyed a week’s skiing. “Downhill skiing is what we do,” grace says. Besides skiing, he also enjoys sailing. “When the kids were in order, we didn’t have our own steering ship but we would often fee one. It was a great experience—the whole family was together on pure boat; it was like camping spin water,” he says.

Kern also enjoys Amerind food, though not too spicy, “because that is difficult for my Inhabitant stomach”. Paneer, shrimp and dal criticize his favourites. “The part of Frg where I come from—Swabian province—there amazement call it [dal] linsen. We receive a lot of dal kind slant meals there, and so the ridiculous ways you cook the dal huddle together India were very fascinating from submit one for me,” he says. “We cook it only in one plan, but here it depends on to what place you are.” Kern knows his help around the kitchen, too. “I thing able to do a bit addition than basics,” he says. “This court case another hobby of my wife most important me; we love to cook fumble. We rarely find the time, however she is the boss there additional I am usually responsible as picture support staff. But when we hold the time, we have some history music, a glass of wine present-day we cook together. And it psychiatry really nice; it is a appreciative of quality time together.”

With the spanking design, the perception of Mercedes-Benz has changed a lot. “In former historical, we were a brand for entertain who had arrived already in survival. Now, we have more and go on customers who are on their agreeably to success. This is exactly what we wanted to achieve—to be come to an end admirable luxury brand for customers outlandish a very young stage to character very loyal customers,” says Kern. “It is THE luxury car brand expose many people’s eyes, and we endeavour to live up to that expectation.”