AUTO1 Group Appoints 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 will step down from his role after ten years of service at the end of 2025. 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 AUTO1 Group. Most recently, he served as Deputy Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer at Hoist Finance, an asset manager specializing in non-performing loans, where he was responsible for the company's transformation program and led the finance department. His appointment signals AUTO1 Group's continued focus on strengthening its financial leadership as the company pursues ambitious growth targets in the competitive European used car market.

Hakan Koc, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of AUTO1 Group, expressed confidence in Wallentin's appointment, stating that the company has gained an experienced financial expert and strong leader for the CFO position. Koc also acknowledged Markus Boser's significant contributions, noting that Boser had been instrumental in establishing AUTO1 Group's financial strength over the past decade. Christian Bertermann, CEO of AUTO1 Group, welcomed Wallentin to the management board and emphasized looking forward to his contributions as the company pursues growth ambitions, particularly in financing operations.

Wallentin's career 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. During his tenure 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 investment banking at Goldman Sachs. He holds 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.

The appointment comes at a strategic time for AUTO1 Group as the company continues to expand its position in Europe's used car market. With operations spanning over 30 countries and generating revenue of EUR 6.3 billion in 2024, the company sold 690,000 cars last year and employed 6,300 people at year-end. Wallentin expressed excitement about joining AUTO1 Group's management board, noting that together with the team, they will continue to unlock the massive growth opportunities in Europe's used car market.

Markus Boser, the outgoing CFO, reflected on his decade with AUTO1 Group, expressing gratitude for being part of the company's remarkable journey from early startup days to becoming a publicly listed company. Under Boser's leadership, AUTO1 Group established strong financial foundations and completed its initial public offering in February 2021, joining the Frankfurt Stock Exchange as part of the MDAX index. Boser acknowledged the contributions of customers, partners, investors, and the entire AUTO1 Group team throughout his tenure.

This leadership transition represents a significant development for Europe's automotive sector, as AUTO1 Group continues to leverage technology and data across its three main brands: wirkaufendeinauto.de, Autohero, and AUTO1.com. The company's platform serves both consumers and partner dealers, offering streamlined solutions for selling, buying, and financing used vehicles. More information about the company's operations and services can be found at https://www.auto1-group.com.