Daimler Truck sets new management

In preparation for its spin-off from Daimler AG and its independent listing on the Frankfurt stock exchange planned for late 2021, Daimler Truck AG is announcing the composition of its new board of management and a series of significant management and organizational changes.

In preparation for its spin-off from Daimler AG and its independent listing on the Frankfurt stock exchange planned for late 2021, Daimler Truck AG is announcing the composition of its new board of management and a series of significant management and organizational changes, set to take place as of July 1. The changes are intended to increase Daimler Truck AG’s efficiency, decision making speed and ability to better serve customer needs across the globe, the company said.

To accelerate the pace of technological development and to better serve the needs of its customers in each region, Daimler Truck AG has decided to realign its business structure. This means that the operating units and brands, which are globally active in the most important sales regions of North America (Freightliner, Western Star, Thomas Built Buses), Europe and Latin America (Mercedes-Benz Trucks) and Asia (Fuso and BharatBenz), will be given more entrepreneurial independence and room to maneuver in the future.

Going forward, decisionmaking authority and the necessary product development resources will be organized alongside the respective Daimler Truck brands in the regions. This will include the chief engineer functions for the entire vehicle development, previously structurally anchored in the central development of Daimler Trucks & Buses, being assigned to the corresponding regions. This is designed allow vehicle brands such as Freightliner in North America, Mercedes-Benz Trucks in Europe and Latin America, FUSO in Asia to deliver the best possible product and service offering for their customers.

New board spot for Truck Technology Group

Given the increased drive toward CO2-neutral transportation and the accelerating development of software and connectivity, Daimler Truck AG said it is bringing together all essential technology and powertrain activities into one division, the Truck Technology Group (TT). This will be headed by Dr. Andreas Gorbach and a global competence center for research, development and production for all future powertrain technologies – combustion engine, battery electric and fuel cell – will be created.

Dr. Andreas Gorbach will lead Daimler Trucks’ new Truck Technology Group.

In addition, TT will be responsible for vehicle software, electrics/ electronics and global purchasing. These changes not only make it possible to economically scale differentiating technologies through broad use in all regions, but also to leverage global synergies.

“The new business structure gives Daimler Trucks & Buses the best of both worlds: Maximum customer proximity and entrepreneurship in our regions and maximum, focused engineering power for future technologies,” said Martin Daum, CEO of Daimler Truck AG. “Dr. Andreas Gorbach is a proven leader with broad experience in both conventional and zero-emission powertrains. He is the perfect match for the new Truck Technology Group board of management position.”

Gorbach, 45, is currently CEO of the Daimler-Volvo Group fuel cell joint venture cellcentric.

Sven Ennerst, previously responsible for Development, Purchasing and Region China, will pursue as General Representative China until the end of the year, fully focused on the company’s success in that important market for Daimler Trucks. Dr. Frank Reintjes, previously responsible for the Global Powertrain division, will accompany the realignment of Daimler Truck AG as a senior executive advisor to the CEO until the end of the year. Both executives will start their retirements at the end of the year.

Financial services for Daimler Truck & Bus

An additional step towards greater customer orientation is the establishment of a new, company-owned financial services unit for the truck and bus business. The new subsidiary of Daimler Truck AG will provide targeted support for the sales of the world’s largest truck and bus manufacturer with tailor-made financing, leasing and mobility solutions and will strengthen customer relationships. Colleagues of the future Daimler Truck Financial Services organization will transfer from Daimler Mobility AG to the new company ahead of the planned spin-off and listing and become part of the worldwide Daimler Truck family. The management of this new in-house financial services unit will be taken over by Stephan Unger from July 1. In this capacity, Unger will become a member of the board of management of Daimler Truck AG as per that date.

Unger, 54, has been on the Board of Management of Daimler Mobility AG since 2012, previously responsible for Finance & Controlling, Risk Management and Digital Mobility Solutions. His career has taken him through various management positions in Finance & Controlling, including at Mitsubishi Motors Corp. in Japan, which was then part of DaimlerChrysler AG, and Mercedes-AMG GmbH. In 2020, Unger additionally took over responsibility for controlling the investments in the area of digital mobility services.

The board of management of Daimler Truck AG

Along with Daum, the board of management of the future independent Daimler Truck AG consists of:

- Karin Rådström, responsible for the Europe and Latin America regions and the Mercedes-Benz Truck brand.

- John O’Leary, CEO of Daimler Trucks North America, responsible for the North America region and the Freightliner, Western Star and Thomas Built Buses brands.

- Hartmut Schick, CEO of Daimler Trucks Asia, responsible for the Asia region and the Fuso and BharatBenz brands.

- Gorbach, head of the Truck Technology Group.

Unger, head of Daimler Truck Financial Services.

- Jochen Götz, responsible for Finance and Controlling.

- Jürgen Hartwig, responsible for Human Resources.