Daimler Truck announced on Sunday that its chief financial officer Jochen Goetz died on Saturday in a tragic accident. He was 52. Goetz had spent 36 years with Daimler Truck.
According to a company statement:
The Supervisory Board, the Board of Management and workforce of Daimler Truck have received the news of the death of their Chief Financial Officer Jochen Goetz with dismay and great sadness. Jochen Goetz has passed away suddenly and unexpectedly in a tragic incident on Saturday, Aug. 5, 2023.
Jochen Goetz was member of the Board of Management of Daimler Truck Holding AG since July 12th, 2021, and responsible for finance and controlling, for the procurement of non-production materials and services, and for IT. He was also a member of the Board of Management of Daimler Truck AG.
Martin Daum, chairman of the Board of Management of Daimler Truck Holding AG said, “The death of Jochen Goetz is a tremendous loss for Daimler Truck, both personally and professionally. I have known Jochen Goetz for more than 20 years and have always worked with him in various functions in an excellent manner. Jochen Goetz was Daimler Truck with heart and soul. He has played a key role in shaping today’s Daimler Truck company and, as Chief Financial Officer, has consistently worked towards making the company more economically successful today than ever before. His high level of professionalism as well as his positive, engaging manner have characterized him. His profession was his mission. Jochen Goetz has lived and loved Daimler Truck – and we will remember him with great gratitude in the Board of Management and the entire Daimler Truck family: as a valuable person and as a highly respected colleague. His work will remain and not be forgotten. Our thoughts are now above all with his family and relatives.”
Joe Kaeser, chairman of the Supervisory Board of Daimler Truck Holding AG said, “The news of Jochen Goetz’ sudden death has shocked us. Just a few days ago, he presented the successful financial development of ‘his company’ to the Supervisory Board in a convincing and confident manner. Jochen Goetz stood for authenticity, commitment and care for his colleagues. Thereby, he always had an eye on the long-term purpose of Daimler Truck. His knowledge of and commitment to the company is unparalleled. As Chief Financial Officer, he has made a significant contribution to establishing the company in an economically strong position and further strengthening its profitability. We are mourning a great manager and person. Our thoughts are with his family.”
Michael Brecht, chairman of the General Works Council of Daimler Truck AG said, “The death of Jochen Goetz leaves us shocked and deeply saddened. His impressive career shows how great things can be achieved at Daimler Truck. Jochen Goetz always listened to employees and us, the Works Council, and stood for a trusted cooperation between the Management and the Works Council. I personally lose a long-standing companion, a trustworthy partner, a friend. We are now thinking of his wife, his children and all other relatives.”
Jochen Goetz was born on April 6, 1971, in Rastatt, Baden-Wuerttemberg/Germany. After completing school in Gaggenau and his apprenticeship as industrial merchant at the then Mercedes-Benz AG, he completed his on-the-job degree in Business Administration (VWA) from 1994 to 1998 at the Verwaltungs- und Wirtschafts-Akademie in Karlsruhe (Germany).
Jochen Goetz spent his entire professional career at the Daimler Group for over 36 years.
After nine years in various controlling functions in the Unimog-division of the then Mercedes-Benz AG/Daimler-Benz AG, he moved to his first management position in the controlling division at Mercedes-Benz Trucks in 2001. After further positions and career steps in finance and controlling at Truck Powertrain, Jochen Goetz took over the position of Director finance and controlling Trucks NAFTA at Daimler Trucks North America in Portland, Oregon (U.S.) in 2012.
In 2015, Jochen Goetz moved from a position at Mercedes-Benz Cars back to the commercial vehicle division of Daimler AG and became vice president finance and controlling Daimler Trucks and Buses. After his appointment as executive vice president finance and controlling Daimler Trucks and Buses in 2018, Jochen Goetz was finally appointed to the board of management of Daimler Truck Holding AG as part of the spin-off in 2021 and has been responsible for finance and controlling there ever since.
Goetz was decisively responsible for the successful spin-off of Daimler Truck Holding AG from today’s Mercedes-Benz Group AG in December 2021. Just a few months after the spin-off on Dec. 10, 2021, Daimler Truck Holding AG became part of the DAX in March 2022, the stock index of the 40 largest and highest-turnover German companies in the regulated market of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange.
After the successful financial years 2021 and 2022 of Daimler Truck, Jochen Goetz recently announced strong results for the first half of 2023 and the increase in the annual forecast for 2023 as well as the start of the first share buyback program of Daimler Truck Holding AG.
Jochen Goetz leaves behind his wife and two children.
