Shanghai (ZXZC)- At the Paris Motor Show 2024, GAC INTERNATIONAL officially announced that automotive industry veteran Thomas Schemera has joined the company as Global Chief Operating Officer (COO). With over 30 years of global experience, Schemera will play a pivotal role in building GAC's resonance with European consumers and supporting the brand's international expansion.

Thomas Schemera; photo credit: GAC INTERNATIONAL

Thomas Schemera hails from Germany and has extensive expertise in the global automotive sector, having held prominent positions at BMW and Hyundai. His work spans global marketing, brand development, and product strategy, and he has earned numerous accolades for his achievements. In 2022, Mr. Schemera was named one of the "World's Most Influential CMOs 2022" by Forbes and listed among the "50 most influential and determined marketers in Asia-Pacific 2022" by the Campaign Asia Power List.

Mr. Schemera began his career at BMW Group in 1987, where he held several key positions, including Vice President of BMW Sales and Dealer Development in Mainland & Greater China for four years. He was also responsible for global sales and marketing for the BMW M, in addition to serving as the head of BMW M and BMW in the Americas. From 2005 to 2008, under his leadership, he spearheaded a fourfold increase in BMW and BMW M sales, and expanded the dealer network ninefold, significantly boosting the brand's market competitiveness and customer satisfaction.

In 2018, Mr. Schemera joined Hyundai Motor Group ("Hyundai") as Executive Vice President and Global Chief Marketing Officer. During his more than five years with Hyundai, he spearheaded global marketing campaigns for Hyundai, Kia, and Genesis brands, managed product strategies, and led the development of the high-performance "Hyundai N" brand. Mr. Schemera was also instrumental in launching the group's IONIQ electric vehicle sub-brand, overseeing the successful global debuts of the IONIQ 5 and IONIQ 6.

"I am thrilled to join the GAC family," Mr. Schemera said. "GAC Group is a highly innovative technology company with a comprehensive global strategy aimed at delivering the best mobility solutions to customers worldwide. I look forward to leveraging my 30-plus years of industry knowledge and experience to contribute to GAC International's growth and help deliver first-class digital experiences to global customers."

GAC INTERNATIONAL's participation in the Paris Motor Show, coupled with its plans to enter the European market, marks a significant step in the company's international expansion efforts. The company warmly welcomed Schemera's appointment. Wei Haigang, General Manager of GAC INTERNATIONAL, expressed high expectations for Mr. Schemera's leadership, stating, "With over 30 years of experience in the global automotive industry, Thomas Schemera brings exceptional expertise in brand building, technological innovation, strategic development, user experience, and human resource management. We are confident that with his support, GAC will continue to evolve as a customer-centric mobility company, delivering top-tier experiences to consumers."