Karin Rådström succeeds Martin Daum as Daimler Truck CEO starting October 2024

The Supervisory Board of Daimler Truck has appointed Karin Rådström as the new Chief Executive Officer of the company effective October 1, 2024. She is appointed in this function until January 31, 2029. Before joining the group in 2021, she had been working in Scania – we interviewed her in 2019 while she was holding the position of Vice President, Head of Sales and Marketing.

Karin Rådström will succeed Martin Daum who will simultaneously resign as CEO. Martin Daum will remain as full member of the Board of Management until December 31, 2024, to support a smooth handover. This change at the helm of the group follows the appointment of Eva Scherer, from Siemens, as CFO earlier this year.

Karin Rådström is new Daimler Truck CEO

Karin Rådström joined Daimler Truck’s Board of Management in 2021 and since then has been responsible for Mercedes-Benz Trucks. Before joining Daimler Truck, she oversaw Sales & Marketing as a member of the Executive Board at Scania. She previously also held the position of Senior Vice President, Head of Buses & Coaches. 

Daimler Truck highlights that “Within a short period of time, the trained engineer has successfully reshaped the segment profitability and advanced its transformation towards sustainability. With foresight and entrepreneurial spirit, she has introduced a range of new battery electric trucks while driving customer focus together with her team, leading to an enhanced service offering and an increased customer satisfaction”. 

Michael Brecht, Vice Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Daimler Truck Holding AG and Chairman of the General Works Council: “As labor representatives we have worked well and trustful with Karin Radström in the recent years. It is important to us that Daimler Truck under her leadership remains a successful and future-proof company. Thereby, the interests of employees and shareholders must be taken into account equally. This is a prerequisite for secure and good jobs. Our explicit thanks and greatest respect go to Martin Daum, who has successfully positioned Daimler Truck globally with great care. He has achieved outstanding accomplishments, led Daimler Truck to independence and always listened to the interests of the workforce.”

Joe Kaeser, Chairman of the Supervisory Board: “We are delighted to win Karin Rådström with her outstanding industry knowledge and leadership skills as the new CEO of Daimler Truck Holding AG. She has proven that she is able to successfully advance the transformation of a brand while navigating a challenging external environment. As a true leader, Karin Rådström has been instrumental in establishing a new performance culture and fostering empowerment, diversity and customer focus. These principles are essential for Daimler Truck to master the transformation of mobility successfully and be our customers’ first choice. We wish her and her team great success and we are very much looking forward to continuing our collaboration.” 

Martin Daum, instrumental in shaping Daimler Truck

Starting his career at Daimler-Benz AG in 1987, “Martin Daum has been instrumental in shaping Daimler Truck’s global success – as reads a press note by the group -. As CEO of Daimler Trucks North America, he played a key role in growing the local business. Today, the segment North America is one of Daimler Truck’s powerhouses. Since assuming the role as member of the Board of Management of the former Daimler AG for Trucks and Buses in 2017, Martin Daum and his leadership team have significantly increased revenues while strongly enhancing margins, thereby providing greater flexibility for future investments. Under his leadership, Daimler Truck has spearheaded the technological transformation with both battery electric and hydrogen-based drivetrains”.

The Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Daimler Truck Holding AG, Joe Kaeser, stated: “Personally, and on behalf of the entire Supervisory Board, I would like to thank Martin Daum for his commitment and outstanding results. He has been leading Daimler Truck’s transition from a conglomerate division into a successful DAX-listed company in a convincing manner. Thus, he led it through one of its most eventful times in recent history and has been the key architect of Daimler Truck’s economic success and international reputation. His dedication to the company, its customers and employees is remarkable. He is a ‘trucker’ with heart and soul. Martin Daum hands over a successful company which is well prepared for the challenges ahead.”