AUTO1 Group Names Christian Wallentin as New CFO Effective January 2026

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 after ten years with the company at the end of 2025. The appointment comes with a three-month transition period beginning October 1, 2025, to ensure a smooth handover of financial leadership responsibilities.

Wallentin brings over 20 years of banking and finance experience 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. 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.

During his time at Nordea, Wallentin played a crucial role in 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. His earlier career includes private equity experience at Permira and investment banking at Goldman Sachs. Wallentin 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.

Hakan Koc, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of AUTO1 Group, expressed confidence in the appointment, stating that the company has gained "such an experienced financial expert and strong leader" with Wallentin. Christian Bertermann, CEO of AUTO1 Group, welcomed Wallentin to the management board and highlighted his expected contributions to the company's growth ambitions, particularly in financing. Bertermann also acknowledged outgoing CFO Markus Boser for his "exceptional leadership and dedication over the past 10 years."

The leadership change comes at a pivotal time for AUTO1 Group as the company continues to expand its position in Europe's used car market. Wallentin emphasized his excitement about joining the management board and working with the team to "continue to unlock the massive growth opportunities in Europe's used car market." His appointment signals AUTO1 Group's strategic focus on strengthening its financing capabilities and pursuing further growth in the competitive automotive platform sector.

Markus Boser, the departing CFO, played a vital role in establishing AUTO1 Group's financial management foundations and was responsible for all financial activities, including the company's initial public offering in February 2021. Reflecting on his tenure, Boser expressed gratitude for being part of AUTO1 Group's journey "from our early days as a start-up to becoming a publicly listed company" and noted that together they built "a business that is not only financially strong but also positioned for continued profitable growth."

This executive transition is significant for investors and industry observers as it represents a strategic shift in financial leadership for one of Europe's largest digital automotive platforms. The appointment of an executive with Wallentin's background in banking, finance, and corporate transformation suggests AUTO1 Group's intention to strengthen its financial operations and capitalize on growth opportunities in the evolving used car market. For more information about AUTO1 Group, visit https://www.auto1-group.com.