AUTO1 Group SE has announced Christian Wallentin will become the new Chief Financial Officer effective January 1, 2026, succeeding Markus Boser who steps down after ten years of service. The transition period began October 1, 2025, ensuring a smooth handover of financial leadership responsibilities at Europe's leading digital automotive platform for buying, selling and financing used cars.
Wallentin brings over 20 years of experience in banking and finance to AUTO1 Group, most recently serving as Deputy Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer at Hoist Finance, an asset manager specializing in non-performing loans. During his tenure at Hoist Finance, he was responsible for the company's transformation program and led the finance department. His extensive 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.
Hakan Koc, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of AUTO1 Group, expressed confidence in the appointment, stating that the company has gained an experienced financial expert and strong leader in Wallentin. Koc also acknowledged Markus Boser's 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 his anticipated contributions to the company's growth ambitions, particularly in the financing sector.
Wallentin's career includes significant experience in major financial institutions and transactions. 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 worked in private equity at Permira and in 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.
Markus Boser, the outgoing CFO, reflected on his decade with AUTO1 Group, expressing gratitude for being part of the company's journey from startup to publicly listed entity. During his tenure, Boser played a vital role in establishing the strong foundations of AUTO1 Group's financial management and was responsible for all financial activities of the Group, including its initial public offering in February 2021. The company went public on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange and is part of the MDAX index.
AUTO1 Group, founded in 2012, operates as Europe's leading digital automotive platform across three main brands: wirkaufendeinauto.de, Autohero, and AUTO1.com. The company leverages technology and data to maximize value for consumers and partner dealers throughout Europe. With operations spanning over 30 countries, AUTO1 Group employed 6,300 people at the end of 2024, generated revenue of EUR 6.3 billion, and sold 690,000 cars in 2024. The leadership transition comes as the company continues to pursue growth opportunities in Europe's substantial used car market, with Wallentin expressing excitement about unlocking these opportunities together with the AUTO1 team. For more information about the company, visit https://www.auto1-group.com.
This leadership change at AUTO1 Group represents a significant development for HR vendors and professionals monitoring talent management trends in the automotive and financial technology sectors. The appointment of Wallentin signals AUTO1 Group's strategic focus on strengthening its financial operations and pursuing growth through sophisticated financial management. His background in banking, private equity, and corporate development suggests the company may be positioning itself for more complex financial transactions, potential acquisitions, or expanded financing services within the used car market.
For HR vendors serving the automotive and fintech industries, this executive transition highlights the increasing demand for financial leaders with diverse experience across banking, private equity, and corporate development. Wallentin's career trajectory from Goldman Sachs to Nordea to Hoist Finance demonstrates the value companies place on executives who can navigate complex financial landscapes while driving transformation programs. This appointment may influence hiring trends in similar companies seeking financial leadership with Wallentin's specific blend of investment banking, corporate development, and CFO experience.
The smooth transition plan, with a three-month handover period beginning in October 2025, provides a model for effective executive succession planning that HR professionals can study. The acknowledgment of outgoing CFO Markus Boser's decade of contributions also demonstrates best practices in recognizing long-serving executives during leadership transitions. As AUTO1 Group continues to expand across Europe's substantial used car market, Wallentin's financial expertise will likely play a crucial role in supporting the company's ambitious growth plans, potentially creating new opportunities for HR vendors providing services to the expanding automotive technology sector.
