Former Daimler CEO Dieter Zetsche (photo, left) is the best candidate to be the company’s next chairman, says current Chairman Manfred Bischoff (photo, right).
Zetsche was succeeded as CEO in May 2019 by the automaker’s research and development boss, Ola Kallenius. When the succession plans were announced, Zetsche was nominated to succeed Bischoff after the company’s annual meeting in 2021 following a two-year cooling off period recommended by German corporate practice.
Zetsche is expected to be installed as chairman during the new board’s first meeting at the end of next year’s annual meeting, the date for which has not yet been announced.
Bischoff, whose term will end just before the annual meeting, will have stepped down by that time.