Daimler has selected the head of its North American trucks department to run group-wide truck operations, it stated on Monday, preventing a prolonged search for a successor to departed chief Wolfgang Bernhard.
Bernhard, 56, when viewed as a prospect to succeed Daimler CEO Diete Zetsche, stepped down a year prior to his agreement was going to expire, the automaker stated last month.
Martin Daum, 57, president and chief executive of Daimler’s trucks in North America, was selected by the company’s supervisory board to leading management effective on March 1 for a five-year duration, Daimler informed.
Daum has operated Daimler’s heavy-duty automobile service in North America since 2009, having formerly held a top management post at the company’s European trucks department with obligation for Daimler’s substantial trucks plant in Woerth, Germany.
“We are encouraged that he will successfully meet the upcoming difficulties in the next years,” Daimler Chairman Manfred Bischoff stated in an emailed statement.
Daimler’s announcement confirms a Reuters story released earlier on Monday stating that the succession space left by Bernhard’s departure would be resolved soon.
Bernhard’s restructuring efforts have outraged powerful labor leaders, who impeded his development at Daimler till he was too old to be thought about for the top task, sources knowledgeable about the matter stated.
In contrast the works council, whose members inhabit half the seats on Daimler’s 20-strong supervisory board, welcomed the consultation of Daum.
“He is collaborative,” Daimler’s labor boss, Michael Brecht, said by email, including that he expected useful talks as the company continues to try to search for cost savings.
