Porsche Cars North America Bucks Latest Trends and Appoints Young CEO
 |
| Porsche Cars North America CEO Fred Schwab doesn't give a hint as to his retirement during or after his NAIAS address on Wednesday, January 8. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press) |
None of the panel of Porsche executives lined up to field questions at Wednesday's North American Cayenne SUV launch in Detroit, that incidentally included Porsche Cars North America (PCNA) President and CEO Fred Schwab, showed any indication that their charismatic leader would be stepping down.
For the past 10 years Fred Schwab has been "Mister Porsche" in the USA and Canada, leading PCNA to become Porsche AG's highest performing sales division. A quick glance at the brand's sales figures in 1992/93, a fiscal year that resulted in the sale of only 3,700 cars, shows how far the North American company has grown compared to its 23,100 cars sold in 2001/02.
 |
| Porsche's Boxtster and Boxster S were introduced during Schwab's reign and have been instrumental in the brand's mercurial North American growth. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press) |
Looking young and vigorous for his 63 years, the Detroit native will be 64 on March 28, there's no doubt Schwab has his own reasons for leaving his post on March 1 of this year. His successor will be Peter Schwarzenbauer, currently Managing Director of Porsche Iberica for the Spanish and Portuguese markets.