Mark VII adds two direct sales directors amid leadership transition

Car wash equipment manufacturer Mark VII has appointed two new directors of direct sales, splitting coverage of North America into eastern and western territories as part of a broader push on growth and customer relationships. The Arvada, Colorado, company named Kaleb Lingg as director of direct sales for the East and Cameron McDonnell as director of direct sales for the West, according to reporting from Professional Carwashing & Detailing.

Both hires report to Pierre Leclercq, senior vice president of sales, and arrive as the company prepares for a change at the top of its direct sales operation.

Who is joining

Lingg, based in Tampa, Florida, and originally from Dayton, Ohio, holds bachelor's and master's degrees in business management and is a former college athlete. Mark VII pointed to his background in team development and relationship building as a fit for the sales culture it wants to build. Leclercq described Lingg's people-first approach as an outstanding addition to the team.

McDonnell brings experience in operations, business development and sales leadership from outside the car wash sector. He most recently worked in the automotive equipment industry as director of operations and business development for a paint booth equipment company, where he launched territories in Dallas, Tampa and Denver. He previously oversaw a network of 83 distributors as director of business development for North America at Sealcon, and his career also includes HVAC and construction management. Leclercq cited McDonnell's record of growing territories and developing teams as instrumental to expanding the company's presence in the western region.

A transition at the top

The appointments coincide with the departure of Matthias Thomann, vice president of direct sales, who is concluding a two-year assignment with Mark VII and returning to parent company WashTec AG at the end of August. Mark VII credited Thomann with advancing its direct sales strategy during his tenure.

CEO and president Uwe Scharfy thanked Thomann for his leadership and framed the two new directors as central to continued growth. Lingg and McDonnell will each lead sales initiatives in their territories while supporting customers and partners.

Why it matters for operators

Equipment purchasing decisions run through direct sales relationships, so a manufacturer's sales leadership matters to the operators who buy and service its systems. When a supplier reorganizes its sales structure and rotates senior leadership, operators can expect changes in the points of contact handling their accounts, quotes and installations.

The East-West split signals that Mark VII intends to give regional accounts more focused attention, which can be a positive for operators who want a sales contact familiar with their local market and conditions. At the same time, transitions carry short-term risk. New directors need time to learn existing account histories, and the departure of a longtime leader can disrupt continuity on pending projects.

Operators with active equipment orders, warranty questions or expansion plans tied to Mark VII would do well to confirm who now owns their account and whether any timelines shift during the handoff. For those evaluating suppliers, a manufacturer investing in regional sales capacity is worth watching, since responsive local support often makes the difference between a smooth install and a stalled one. As with any vendor personnel change, the practical test will be whether service and responsiveness hold steady through the transition.