AUTO1 Group SE, Europe's leading digital automotive platform for buying, selling and financing used cars, 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 CFO role after ten years of service at the end of this year. The leadership transition carries significant implications for the company's financial strategy and growth trajectory in Europe's competitive used car market.
The appointment of Wallentin brings substantial financial expertise to AUTO1 Group's leadership team during a period of strategic expansion. Wallentin joins with over 20 years of experience in banking and finance, most recently serving as Deputy Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer at Hoist Finance, an asset manager specializing in non-performing loans. His 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, Wallentin 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.
Hakan Koc, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of AUTO1 Group, emphasized the importance of this appointment, stating that the company has gained "such an experienced financial expert and strong leader" for the CFO position. The transition period began on October 1, 2025, ensuring a smooth handover between the outgoing and incoming financial leaders. This careful planning reflects the critical nature of financial leadership continuity for a publicly traded company navigating Europe's dynamic automotive market.
Christian Bertermann, CEO of AUTO1 Group, expressed enthusiasm about Wallentin joining the management board and highlighted his expected contributions to the company's growth ambitions, particularly in financing. The emphasis on financing capabilities underscores AUTO1 Group's strategic focus on expanding its financial services offerings within the used car ecosystem. Wallentin's previous experience at Goldman Sachs in investment banking and private equity at Permira provides additional relevant expertise for this strategic direction.
The outgoing CFO, Markus Boser, played a vital role in establishing AUTO1 Group's financial foundations during his decade-long tenure. Boser was responsible for all financial activities of the Group, including its initial public offering in February 2021. His leadership helped transform the company from its early startup days to a publicly listed entity with substantial market presence. Boser expressed gratitude for being part of AUTO1 Group's remarkable journey and acknowledged the collaborative efforts that built "a business that is not only financially strong but also positioned for continued profitable growth."
This leadership change occurs as AUTO1 Group continues to expand its operations across more than 30 countries. The company, which operates through three main brands - wirkaufendeinauto.de, Autohero and AUTO1.com - generated revenue of EUR 6.3 billion and sold 690,000 cars in 2024. Wallentin's appointment signals the company's commitment to strengthening its financial leadership as it pursues further growth in Europe's massive used car market. Additional information about the company can be found at https://www.auto1-group.com.
The financial leadership transition at AUTO1 Group represents more than just an executive change—it reflects the evolving needs of digital automotive platforms as they scale operations and navigate complex financial markets. With Wallentin's extensive experience in corporate development, banking operations, and financial transformation, his appointment positions AUTO1 Group to capitalize on growth opportunities while maintaining financial discipline in a competitive industry landscape.
