Zakirin
Mercedes-Benz Malaysia has appointed Kevin Barbian as the new Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Mercedes-Benz Cars Malaysia, effective 1 September 2026, succeeding Nadia Trimmel as she transitions to an executive sales post in the United Kingdom.
- Kevin Barbian assumes the role of Chief Operating Officer at Mercedes-Benz Malaysia effective 1 September 2026.
- Outgoing executive Nadia Trimmel transitions to become Sales Director at Mercedes-Benz Vans UK after managing domestic brand operations and vehicle rollouts since 2024.
- Barbian brings 15 years of corporate experience across automotive telematics, connected-car software systems, enterprise data units, and the international execution of the “Retail of the Future” agency sales model.
Barbian’s tenure within the Mercedes-Benz organisation began in 2011, initially serving as a business development consultant before progressing to oversee commercial telematics and business-to-business (B2B) fleet services.In 2016, he founded Mercedes-Benz Connectivity Services GmbH, directing its commercial operations as head of sales and marketing.
Over the subsequent decade, Barbian held several managerial portfolios focused on enterprise IT infrastructure, digital transformation, and connected vehicle services.Within the Mercedes-EQ sub-brand, he acted as digital lead managing over-the-air (OTA) software delivery protocols and on-demand vehicle function integration.He subsequently established and scaled the company’s digital, data, and artificial intelligence division within its IT Customer Services wing across various international centres.In his most recent assignment prior to moving to Malaysia, Barbian supervised the European implementation of the direct-to-consumer “Retail of the Future” agency model, managing rollouts across Germany and associated overseas markets.The agency model framework was previously established in Malaysia in September 2023.
| Executive | Effective Date | New Appointment | Career Background & Previous Assignments |
| Kevin Barbian | 1 September 2026 | Chief Operating Officer, Mercedes-Benz Cars Malaysia | Head of ‘Retail of the Future’ Europe; Digital Lead for Mercedes-EQ; Founder & Head of Sales and Marketing at Mercedes-Benz Connectivity Services GmbH |
| Nadia Trimmel | 1 September 2026 | Sales Director, Mercedes-Benz Vans UK | Vice President of Sales & Marketing / COO at Mercedes-Benz Malaysia (joined 2024); managed Retail of the Future network operations and local launches, including the CLA250+ EV |
Commenting on his appointment, Barbian stated that Malaysia represents an active regional market for Mercedes-Benz, noting that his management focus will center on collaborating with domestic retail partners to refine operational workflows and improve customer touchpoints.
The outgoing executive, Nadia Trimmel, departs the Malaysian national sales company to take up her new role as Sales Director at Mercedes-Benz Vans UK.Trimmel joined Mercedes-Benz Malaysia in 2024 as vice president of sales and marketing, leading the local commercial organisation through the initial operational phases of the agency sales model and directing multiple vehicle introduction campaigns, most recently the domestic launch of the battery-electric CLA250+.Trimmel acknowledged the contribution of local dealership partners and team members during her leadership tenure, stating confidence in Barbian’s ability to maintain operational momentum across the Malaysian business.
