Mercedes‑Benz announces that Francesco Ciancia (48) joins the company as of October 1st, 2022. He is currently Head of Manufacturing for Low-Mid Segment for Stellantis Europe Region. He will succeed Ingo Ettischer, Head of Mercedes‑Benz Vans Operations.
Ciancia follows Dr. Ingo Ettischer (56), who has been in this function, after various positions in passenger cars and trucks, since March 2019. After more than 20 years, Ettischer leaves the company at his own request on December 31st, 2022 to dedicate himself to a new task.
“I am delighted to welcome Francesco Ciancia to Mercedes-Benz. He is as an internationally experienced production manager and his expertise in high performance manufacturing will allow us to raise productivity and further accelerate the electric transformation of the van division,” says Mathias Geisen, Head of Mercedes‑Benz Vans.
“I thank Ingo Ettischer for his commitment as Head of Mercedes‑Benz Vans Operations in these challenging times, especially for keeping Global Operations and the international supply chain running in a time marked by Covid and delivery difficulties. I wish him all the best for his future,” adds Mathias Geisen.
In the past three years, Ingo Ettischer has driven the transformation towards production of fully electric vehicles and positioned Mercedes‑Benz Vans Operations for the future.
Francesco Ciancia has over 20 years of experience in the automotive industry and was most recently Head of Manufacturing for Low-Mid segment for the Enlarged Europe Region at Stellantis. In this context, he was responsible for nine factories. Previously, he held various management functions at Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA), among other things Head of Manufacturing of EMEA Premium brands, as well as Head of Manufacturing Latin America (LATAM).
“I look forward to working with Francesco. With his many years of leadership in operational roles he brings the requisite know-how to lead the global production activities, successfully master upcoming challenges and further accelerate digital transformation,” adds Mathias Geisen.
The management of Mercedes‑Benz Vans Operations is responsible for all areas belonging to production, such as manufacturing, engineering, logistics and quality management. Mercedes‑Benz Vans has production sites in Germany, Spain, USA, Argentina and cooperation partners in China. As recently announced, the production network of Mercedes‑Benz Vans will be supplemented by another plant in Central/Eastern Europe.