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DEKRA Americas Leadership Team

John joined DEKRA Americas in March of 2023 as President and CEO. In his role at DEKRA Americas, John drives strategic planning and deployment, transforming the product portfolio and spearheading organic growth initiatives alongside lean operational execution. He is leading the evolution of DEKRA’s portfolio through mergers and acquisitions while implementing organizational transformation, change management, and leadership team development. He also serves as a member of the DEKRA SE Executive Committee.
Before joining DEKRA, John held multiple senior leadership roles in the technology sector, most recently serving as President and CEO of TÜV SÜD America. Previously, he built a successful career at Fortive and Danaher Corporation, as well as in technology investment banking, where he provided strategic advisory services to prominent global companies. He began his career in technical marketing and sales at GenRad (now part of Teradyne), a leader in test and measurement.
John holds a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and an MBA in Finance from the University of Rochester’s William E. Simon School of Business.
Brad Smith is the Chief Financial Officer of DEKRA Americas and a global financial leader with expertise in accounting, auditing, and financial management. His career spans multinationals, startups, turnarounds, private equity, and international partnerships, fostering strong banking relationships.
Committed to optimizing resource allocation and cash flow, Brad drives efficiency through best practices. He specializes in investment analysis, profit improvement, budgeting, forecasting, M&A integration, financial reporting, KPI management, and external audits.
Brad holds a degree from the University of Georgia and maintains a strong connection to his alma mater.
Cherele LaVack, MBA, SHRM-SCP, is a transformative HR leader driving DEKRA Americas’ success as Vice President of Human Resources. She shapes culture and optimizes talent strategies, fostering a people-first approach that directly impacts business results. Since joining DEKRA in 2014, she's elevated employee engagement, streamlined HR operations, and aligned workforce strategies with company goals, cultivating a high-performance culture. Backed by her MBA, SHRM-SCP certification, and Korn Ferry training, she brings strategic, data-driven insights. As a trusted advisor to executives and a member of Chief, she champions inclusive workplaces and empowers leaders, ensuring people remain central to DEKRA's mission.
Peter Villari (Pete) is the Senior Vice President of DEKRA’s VIC&E (Vehicle Inspection and Claims and Expertise) business. He has been with DEKRA since April 2014, initially joining as a consultant before being appointed to lead the Expertise business for DEKRA North America.
In his current role, he leads a strong team of operational professionals across the USA and LATAM, driving a results-oriented Operations team. With a diverse background that includes over 25 years of experience in vehicle inspection and 20 years of operational experience in other industries, he remains consistently focused on P&L performance. Under his leadership, his teams have excelled in delivering positive bottom-line results for DEKRA and consistently thrive in achieving challenging goals.
Cem Onus is a dynamic executive driving strategic growth and operational excellence within the testing, inspection, and certification (TIC) industry. As Vice President of Audit, Sustainability, and Industrial Inspection (Americas, NA) at DEKRA, he spearheads initiatives to expand market presence and optimize key business functions across Lifts, Audits, and Sustainability. With over two decades of experience, Cem delivers exceptional results through his expertise in business strategy, client engagement, and operational efficiency. He is a proven leader, dedicated to fostering a high-performance culture and empowering senior leaders to align with DEKRA's mission and core values.
Ryan Gallagher is the Senior Vice President of Consulting & Training at DEKRA, where he leads operations, strategy, M&A, and business transformation initiatives. With a strong focus on integrating technology and analytics into safety and risk management solutions, Ryan has worked closely with his team to develop Holistic Safety Solutions and partner with clients to implement initiatives that enhance workplace safety.
With deep expertise in business growth, operational efficiency, and strategic partnerships, Ryan is passionate about scaling organizations, fostering innovation, and delivering measurable impact. His leadership spans multiple industries, ensuring businesses achieve sustainable success through data-driven decision-making and high-performance teams.
Kristie is a seasoned marketing executive with a track record of driving strategic growth, brand awareness and revenue impact across B2B industries. With extensive experience in marketing leadership roles, she has built and led high-performing teams, developed compelling go to market strategies and executed large-scale events. As the Vice President of Marketing & Communications at DEKRA North America, she is focused on elevating the brand’s presence and aligning marketing initiatives with business objectives.
Christian Stellisch is the Vice President of DEKRA Digital Solutions for the Americas, leading digital innovation and process optimization to drive business impact. Since joining DEKRA in 2016 as an Executive Project Coordinator, he has played a key role in improving operations, bridging cultural gaps between BST and DEKRA HQ, and globalizing RCI software.
Throughout his tenure, Christian has worked closely with the PMO and Service Excellence teams and supported the merger of SD Consulting and Training to SD Advisory & Training. In 2024, he led DEKRA’s global support centers in EMEA, APAC, and AMER, and managed the Microsoft license optimization project. Now, he focuses on enhancing employee experience through secure, high-value digital services.
With deep expertise in digital transformation, Christian excels at leveraging emerging technologies, leading cross-functional teams, and aligning stakeholders to drive continuous innovation at DEKRA.
Michael Kerns serves as the General Counsel for DEKRA North America, overseeing the company’s legal affairs, such as compliance, mergers, and acquisitions. Based in Atlanta, Georgia, he brings extensive knowledge in intellectual property, helping DEKRA safeguard its innovations and drive forward-thinking solutions. With deep expertise in navigating complex regulatory landscapes and managing strategic transactions, Michael ensures legal alignment with DEKRA’s business objectives. He earned his law degree from the University of Virginia School of Law.
Sebastian Danciu is a strategy professional currently serving as the Strategy Director at DEKRA North America, based in Vancouver, British Columbia. In this role, he leverages his expertise in corporate strategy, international economics, and innovation management to drive strategic initiatives and foster business growth.
Sebastian holds a Master's degree in International Business and Economics, and began his journey with DEKRA at our Stuttgart Headquarters as an intern. His academic focus equips him with a comprehensive understanding of global business dynamics.