AUTO1 Group Names Christian Wallentin as New Chief Financial Officer

AUTO1 Group SE, Europe's leading digital automotive platform for buying, selling and financing used cars, has announced that Christian Wallentin will become the new Chief Financial Officer effective January 1, 2026. Wallentin will succeed Markus Boser, who is stepping down after ten years of service with the company. The transition period began on October 1, 2025, ensuring a smooth handover of financial leadership responsibilities.

Wallentin brings over 20 years of extensive experience in banking and finance to his new role. Most recently, he served as Deputy Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer at Hoist Finance, an asset manager specializing in non-performing loans. During his tenure there, he was responsible for the company's transformation program and led the finance department. His appointment comes at a crucial time for AUTO1 Group as the company continues to pursue ambitious growth targets in the European used car market.

Hakan Koc, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of AUTO1 Group, expressed confidence in the appointment, stating that Wallentin's extensive financial expertise and leadership qualities make him well-suited for the CFO position. The company acknowledged Markus Boser's significant contributions over the past decade, particularly his role in establishing AUTO1 Group's financial strength and managing the company's initial public offering in February 2021. Boser played a vital role in building the financial foundations that supported the company's growth from startup to publicly listed entity.

Christian Bertermann, CEO of AUTO1 Group, welcomed Wallentin to the management board and emphasized the importance of his contributions to the company's growth ambitions, particularly in the financing segment. Wallentin's background includes senior leadership roles at Nordea, where he served as Head of Group Corporate Development and completed a secondment to Luminor as CFO and Head of Operations. At Nordea, he led the merger of Nordea's and DNB's Baltic operations, resulting in the establishment of Luminor, a bank with EUR 15 billion in assets and 3,000 employees.

Earlier in his career, Wallentin gained valuable experience in private equity at Permira and in investment banking at Goldman Sachs. His educational background includes a Master's degree in Economics and Business Administration from the Stockholm School of Economics and a CEMS Master's degree in International Management from ESADE. This diverse experience across banking, private equity, and corporate finance positions him well to guide AUTO1 Group's financial strategy as the company continues to expand its operations across more than 30 countries.

The leadership change occurs as AUTO1 Group maintains its position as Europe's leading digital automotive platform, having generated revenue of EUR 6.3 billion and sold 690,000 cars in 2024. The company operates through three main brands: wirkaufendeinauto.de, which offers consumers a fast way to sell their cars; Autohero, which facilitates the purchase and financing of high-quality used cars; and AUTO1.com, Europe's largest wholesale trading platform for car dealers. For more information about the company's operations and financial performance, visit https://www.auto1-group.com.

Wallentin expressed enthusiasm about joining AUTO1 Group, noting the massive growth opportunities in Europe's used car market. His appointment represents a strategic move to strengthen the company's financial leadership as it continues to leverage technology and data to maximize value for consumers and partner dealers across Europe. The transition underscores AUTO1 Group's commitment to maintaining strong financial management while pursuing continued expansion in the competitive automotive marketplace.