A company with the scope of Daimler Truck North America demands a leadership team with global expertise in all areas of the business. Finance, technology, marketing, human resources and more are all accounted for with the most qualified and experienced people at the helm. Their guidance, however, would mean nothing without the dedicated team of individuals motivated to reach their goals.
Daimler Truck North America President & CEO, John O’Leary is responsible for all aspects of DTNA and its affiliated companies, including Freightliner Trucks, Western Star trucks, Thomas Built Buses (TBB), Freightliner Custom Chassis Corporation (FCCC) and Detroit Diesel Corporation.
Previously, O’Leary served as the Chief Transformation Officer and Head of Mercedes-Benz Trucks in Germany, laying the foundation for its transformation and profitability improvement. He has also previously served as the Chief Financial Officer of DTNA, directing operational and strategic controlling, treasury, accounting, tax, and IT functions for the company and its affiliated entities. O’Leary has also served as the Senior Vice President of Aftermarket, with responsibility for customer experience, dealer service, distribution network development, parts sales and marketing, parts distribution, Alliance Parts, and Detroit Reman. That role also included oversight and development of DTNA’s Aftermarket Service products, including extended chassis and engine warranties, telematics, and contract maintenance. He has also previously served as President & CEO of Thomas Built Buses, where he oversaw sales, marketing, service, dealer operations, product planning, engineering and manufacturing functions.
O’Leary has more than 30 years of experience in a wide variety of leadership and financial roles for truck and electronics manufacturers. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting at Seattle University, and he completed the Executive Program at Northwestern University’s Kellogg Graduate School of Management.
As Chief Financial Officer, Stefan Kürschner directs operational and strategic controlling, treasury, accounting, and tax functions for DTNA and its affiliated companies.
Most recently, Kürschner served as the Senior Vice President of Aftermarket at DTNA where he led all of the company’s aftermarket functions, including customer experience, dealer service, distribution network development, parts sales and marketing, parts distribution, Alliance Parts, and Detroit Reman. Prior to this, Kürschner served as the president and CEO of Daimler Vehículos Comerciales Mexico, where he oversaw sales, marketing, service, dealer operations, product planning, engineering and manufacturing functions.
During his 25-year career with Daimler, Kürschner has held a variety of management positions around the world, including in Germany, Argentina, Brazil, Spain, Mexico and the United States. He holds a Master’s degree with emphasis on Logistics and International Management from the University of Mannheim, Germany.
As Chief People Officer, Angela Lentz leads all aspects of human resource management, including diversity, equity and inclusion, labor and employee relations, compensation and rewards, talent acquisition, performance management, learning and development, corporate health, safety and security, and corporate real estate.
Lentz has more than 25 years of experience at DTNA in a variety of diverse roles, including purchasing, materials, quality, and finance, and has worked in both corporate offices and the Portland Truck Manufacturing Plant. Most recently, Lentz served as the General Manager of Aftermarket Strategic Value Chain & Technology at DTNA where she helped expand the company’s digital footprint and brought increased oversight of its online operations, strategy and implementation.
Lentz earned a Bachelor’s degree in Business Management and Communication from Concordia College
As Senior Vice President, Sales & Marketing, David Carson leads all sales, marketing, and strategic planning activity for DTNA’s complete line of on-highway and vocational trucks.
Previously, Carson served as Senior Vice President, Vocational Sales & Marketing for Freightliner and Western Star trucks. Carson has also previously served as President & CEO of Freightliner Custom Chassis Corporation where he oversaw engineering, operations, and sales and marketing for DTNA’s chassis business. He has also served DTNA in a variety of leadership roles, including as the company’s General Manager of Human Resources responsible for all human resource matters.
Carson holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a Master’s degree in Industrial Relations from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
As Senior Vice President, Aftermarket, Drew Backeberg leads all DTNA aftermarket functions, with responsibility for customer experience, dealer service, distribution network development, parts sales and marketing, parts distribution, Alliance Parts, and Detroit Reman. His role also includes oversight and development of DTNA’s Aftermarket service products, including extended chassis and engine warranties, telematics, and contract maintenance.
Previously, Backeberg served as the Vice President of On-highway sales where he led the dealer sales business for the company’s on-highway products. Prior to that, he served as the President & CEO of Daimler Truck Remarketing (DTR) where he was responsible for guiding the sales channel for second-life vehicles, growing the SelecTrucks network, and safeguarding and supporting pricing discipline for new trucks.
During his 20-year career with DTNA, Backeberg has held increasing roles of responsibility. He started his career at DTNA as a marketing analyst for DTR, later managed a SelecTrucks branch, and served as Regional General Manager of Sales for Freightliner.
Backeberg holds a Bachelor’s degree in Marketing and Management from the University of Portland.
As Senior Vice President, Engineering & Technology, Randy DeBortoli oversees all DTNA product engineering activities, including design, testing, styling, analysis, compliance, and planning functions.
DeBortoli has progressed through increasing roles of responsibility in Daimler Truck North America’s engineering group since joining the company in 1992. Most recently, he served as Chief Engineer, Product Validation Engineering. Prior to this, he held executive appointments as Chief Engineer, Chassis and Vocational Engineering, Chief Engineer, Cab Engineering, and Director of Engineering for Western Star. His previous roles also included Program Manager for EPA2010, Customer Engineering Manager, Chassis Engineering Manager and Mechanical Engineer.
DeBortoli earned a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of California, Davis.
As Senior Vice President, Operations and Specialty Vehicles, Jeff Allen oversees DTNA’s complete manufacturing network, Freightliner Custom Chassis Corporation, and Thomas Built Buses.
Previously, Allen served as the Vice President of Operations at Detroit Diesel Corporation (DDC) where he led all facets of the Detroit operation, including management of Detroit’s powertrain headquarters in Michigan and Detroit’s axle plant in Saltillo, Mexico. He has also served as Vice President of Operations for Thomas Built Buses and as Director of Assembly at DDC.
Allen’s experience at Daimler Trucks includes over 25 years of leadership and operational responsibility. He started his career with Daimler at Detroit in 1992 as a business unit manager. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in Engineering from Michigan State University and an MBA from Oakland University.
As a member of the management board of Daimler Truck Financial Services responsible for North America, Richard Howard also serves as President of Daimler Truck Financial Services USA, the company’s captive finance unit. Howard leads a team focused on streamlining sales processes with tailor-made financing and leasing solutions to improve customer experience and increase customer loyalty.
Previously, he served as the Senior Vice President of On-highway Sales & Marketing at DTNA, where he was responsible for all sales, marketing and strategic planning for DTNA’s on-highway segment. Prior to joining DTNA, Howard served as President and CEO of Daimler Financial Services, Africa and Asia Pacific, and was a member of the Daimler Financial Services AG Board of Management. Over a 20-year period, Howard built his career through the ranks of Daimler Financial Services organization for both Mercedes-Benz passenger cars and Daimler’s commercial trucks divisions. He has held assignments in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Latin America, South Africa, and Asia.
Howard holds a Master’s degree in Business Administration from Aston University in the United Kingdom.