Without much fanfare, Dieter Zetsche took over from Juergen Schrempp as CEO of DaimlerChrysler this weekend. Zetsche promises to usher in a new era at the struggling automaker by taking the necessary restructuring steps. Schrempp’s reign over the German-U.S. automaker was a much scrutinized one, eventually resulting in his downfall. Zetsche spent the last few months at the company’s Mercedes car group, implementing an aggressive restructuring strategy that many believe will benefit the company in the long run. It’s unclear if Zetsche has any major announcements in the works for the company. In December, it was rumored that DaimlerChrysler was planning deeper job cuts than first expected. In November, Zetsche explained his outlook for Mercedes post-restructuring, comparing the company’s reputation for quality to a bank account that can be added to and withdrawn from. Zetsche also said he will remain in personal charge of Mercedes — even after he takes over at Chrysler — until it is back on track.
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