Daimler Confirms Kallenius as New CEO

Daimler AG has chosen Ola Kallenius, 49, to replace CEO Dieter Zetsche, 65, in May 2019, two years earlier than originally planned.

Kallenius was identified as Zetsche’s heir apparent in 2016. Daimler says it is making the move to establish a younger management team that will lead its transformation from carmaker to mobility provider. The board praises Zetsche for positioning the company to move into its expanded role.

Zetsche will join Daimler’s supervisory board in 2019 and in 2021 succeed Manfred Bischoff as the company’s chairman. Bischoff, 76, has led the supervisory board since 2007.

Swedish-born Kallenius, who joined Daimler as a trainee in 1993, currently is head of group research and Mercedes-Benz product development. He will become Daimler’s first non-German CEO. He has been credited with helping to streamline the company’s bureaucracy and coaxing it to become more experimental about trying new mobility concepts.

Kallenius will be replaced in his current role by Markus Schaefer, who has directed Mercedes production and supply chain management since January 2014.