Daimler Names First Non-German Boss as Zetsche Era Ends
- Heir apparent Ola Kallenius, 49, to take up role next year
- Zetsche, who led Mercedes to luxury crown, to become chairman
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Daimler AG accelerated a management transition, naming development head Ola Kallenius to replace Chief Executive Officer Dieter Zetsche ahead of schedule as the German carmaker confronts jarring changes in the automotive industry.
Kallenius, the first non-German to take the helm of Daimler, will become CEO in 2019. The 49-year-old Swede was already the heir apparent to long-serving Zetsche, 65, who has faced increasing headwinds this year with the adoption of new emissions tests, a German probe into Mercedes diesel engines and growing trade barriers between key sales regions.