Håkan Samuelsson, chief executive of MAN, announced his immediate resignation at the end of November. The move was totally unexpected move that shocked the boardrooms of Germany.
According to the company it was Samuelsson’s decision to leave his post. The 58-year-old Swede, who joined the company in 2000 and taking control in 2005 was widely credited with transforming the group.
It is likely that Håkan Samuelsson stepped down in an effort to draw a line under a bribery scandal to win truck contracts following an internal investigation with the help of a law firm.
A statement from MAN said: “Samuelsson hopes that this decision will help the MAN group to quickly devote all of its attention to its core business and its further development.”
“He is convinced that there should be a fresh start at the highest level of the company.”
Mr Samuelsson will be succeeded by board member Georg Pachta-Reyhofen on an interim basis.