Kathrin Daecke, Director of Controlling, Digitalisation, Risk & Cost Management, and Aftersales Purchasing at Mercedes-Benz, has been appointed to the executive board of Catena-X, succeeding Rouven Rüdenauer. Rüdenauer, who had held the role since February 2023, was recently named CIO of Mercedes-Benz Vans in March 2025.
Daecke’s extensive experience in purchasing is expected to accelerate the rollout of Catena-X across the Mercedes-Benz supplier network—an essential step toward enhancing industry-wide data connectivity and collaboration. In parallel, Matthias Schneider, Vice President of IT for Research and Development & Procurement, will continue to co-lead Catena-X efforts at Mercedes-Benz, ensuring strong alignment between purchasing and IT.
“Catena-X is revolutionising our data exchange, making processes not only more efficient but also more transparent. Thanks to intelligent data interfaces with our suppliers, we can identify potential bottlenecks in our supply chains at an early stage. The interconnectivity offered through Catena-X provides us with the best possible decision-making support – and will strengthen competitiveness and resilience across the entire automotive network.” said Kathrin Daecke, Director of Steering, Digitalisation, Risk & Cost Management & Aftersales Purchasing.
This close integration supports seamless data exchange within the company’s supplier ecosystem and reflects Mercedes-Benz’s broader strategic focus on digitalization, sustainability, and supply chain resilience. As a founding member of Catena-X, Mercedes-Benz remains committed to advancing an open, secure, and scalable data infrastructure for the entire automotive value chain—driving innovation, efficiency, and collaboration across the industry.
