Ricarda Wachter is an experienced executive in transformation, digitalisation and artificial intelligence with more than 25 years of professional experience at the interface of finance, technology, data management and governance. In her current role as Head of IT Group Functions & FC Data and Solutions at Mercedes-Benz Group AG, she is driving the transformation of Finance & Controlling into an AI-first organisation. In doing so, she is responsible for developing and implementing the AI strategy, establishing the corresponding governance structures and integrating AI into processes, analytics and decision-making.
As part of her work, she engages intensively with questions around AI adoption, AI governance, digital platforms, data-driven organisations, future skills and the design of future-ready operating models. In doing so, she understands artificial intelligence not only as a technology, but as a key lever for the further development of companies, ways of working and competences.
Ricarda Wachter holds a Certified Public Accountant (CPA, inactive) qualification in the USA and completed her degree in business administration at the Stuttgart Cooperative State University, graduating with the Diplom-Betriebswirtin (BA).
Katrin Lehmann has been the Chief Information Officer (CIO) of Mercedes-Benz Group AG and Mercedes-Benz AG since April 2024, with a global responsibility for IT across all divisions, brands and markets.
Previously, she was Vice President IT Sales/Marketing & Home of Tech at Mercedes-Benz AG. The focus of her work was on the digitalization of all sales processes, including IT-based marketing, sales and after-sales activities.
She started her professional career in the SAP sphere in 2001. Since 2004, she has held various management positions in consulting as well as in solution and business development within the SAP Group. In 2015, she took on the role of Program Lead in Strategic Program Management and became the Global Chief Data Officer in 2017. Afterward, she was appointed as Senior VP of S/4 HANA Cloud Data Development. In her last position as Senior VP of Customer Innovation & Maintenance at the Product Engineering Group at SAP SE, she oversaw customer and industryspecific software development, software maintenance and innovation from 2020 to 2023.
Katrin Lehmann holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Mannheim Business School.