MONTVALE, N.J. — The Daimler Board of Management announced it has appointed Stephen Cannon as the new president and CEO for Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA), effective Jan. 1, 2012.

He replaces Ernst Lieb, who left the company in October. The announcement was made by Dr. Joachim Schmidt, executive vice president of sales & marketing for Mercedes-Benz Cars in Stuttgart, Germany, to whom Cannon will report.  

In his new role, Cannon will have overall responsibility for the Mercedes-Benz, Maybach, Sprinter and smart brands in the United States, according to the company. Cannon previously served as vice president of marketing for MBUSA and was responsible for marketing communications, market research and product management of the Mercedes-Benz and Maybach brands in the U.S.

He began his automotive career in 1991 as executive assistant to the president and CEO of Mercedes-Benz of North America (predecessor to MBUSA). 

Cannon then moved to Stuttgart and joined a small team tasked with the development, manufacturing and launch of the M-Class, the first Mercedes-Benz SUV ever made in and for the U.S. market., according to the company. Before returning to Mercedes-Benz in the U.S., Cannon served as director of marketing for debis Financial Services (later Daimler Financial Services) and then held key positions in retail and e-business consultancies.

Cannon also served as principal for The Richards Group, one of the largest independent full-service advertising agencies in the U.S., before joining MBUSA.