EP 7: Greg Clark – Experience at Mercedes-Benz, Honda and Jaguar Land Rover prepared him for launching the INEOS Grenadier in the Americas

The Auto Ethnographer is joined by Greg Clark who expounds on his experiences working with Mercedes-Benz, Jaguar Land Rover, American Honda, and INEOS Automotive. Four distinctly different brands, each with its own culture.  During the conversation we "visit" the UK, Germany, Japan, and United States and the unique working cultures of each. Greg, a native of the United Kingdom, moved to the United States for his studies. He parlayed that stay into the beginnings of an automotive career with Mercedes-Benz and Honda in the US. He worked in product management at both companies but each functioned much differently on the same topic.After expanding the Mercedes-AMG centers in the US, he took over the overall AMG brand in the United States. Following successful growth of the brand and its sales, he transferred to Mercedes-AMG headquarters in Affalterbach, Germany. It took some time to sort out how to work with the German culture but Greg persevered.He then transitioned to Jaguar Land Rover to lead an engineering department. This was a major shift in culture, company, and corporate function. He then slid over into JLR Brand Management and steered marketing over markets in the Overseas Region.These experiences culminated in a preparedness a new challenge. He launched the INEOS Grenadier in the Americas as he took over as head of the region. This vehicle was born of English roots, German engineering, and French-based manufacturing. His task was to successfully introduce it to the United States and other markets in the Americas.Greg introspectively discusses the challenges at each company and with each national culture that he encountered. He highlights some of the pitfalls that leaders can avoid due to cultural differences in the workplace.To learn more about The Auto Ethnographer please visit the homepage at https://www.auto-ethnographer.com