STUTTGART, Germany – Canadian Chris Patterson is taking over the reins of Freightliner LLC.

The 50-year-old Patterson who has held senior positions with Freightliner in the U.S. and Canada as well as Canadian Kenworth and Volvo Trucks North America moves up from his current position of senior vice-president, service and parts at Freightliner LLC to replace Rainer E. Schmueckle as president and CEO. He will also hold the title of head of Business Unit Trucks NAFTA (Freightliner, Sterling, Thomas Built Buses) within the Commercial Vehicles Division of DaimlerChrysler AG.

Patterson assumed his new duties Apr. 15.

Schmueckle, 45, who managed North America’s Class 8 market share leader following the departure of the well known but controversial Jim Hebe, has been made chief operating officer of the Mercedes Car Group, effective as of Apr. 15, 2005. In this position he will be responsible for the functional divisions of production, procurement and information technology within the Mercedes Car Group. An important aspect of the CORE mobilization program is the consistent implementation of measures designed to return the Mercedes Car Group to an operating margin of seven per cent. As part of his new function, Schmueckle will oversee the thorough implementation of these measures as part of the CORE program. Schmueckle has often demonstrated his competence in implementing such programs in the past.

*

Veteran salesman Mike Langendock has joined the sales team at Humberview Trucks in Etobicoke. Humberview claims to be the largest GM commercial truck dealer in Canada, with a full lineup of vehicles including straight trucks, tilt cabs, vans and pickups. Langendock can be reached at the office at (416) 233-9262, ext. 5013, by cell at (416) 560-4703 or via e-mail at mlangendock@humberviewtrucks.com

*

Ken Chalmers has been named president and CEO of PBB Global Logistics, a third-party logistics provider.Chalmers has been with PBB for more than 20 years, initially serving as legal advisor for the company. He joined the PBB executive in 2002 and most recently served as the company’s COO, where his duties included improving processes, integrating services and improving margins. With Chalmers, board chairman Ken Wong says the company is now entering into a new phase of growth and development.Prior to joining PBB, Chalmers was counsel with the law firm of Miller Thomson LLP.