Daimler Truck’s chief financial officer Jochen Goetz died “suddenly and unexpectedly” last week.

Goetz, 52, spent more than 36 years at Daimler Group after first starting his career as an apprentice at Mercedes-Benz.

“Supervisory Board and Board of Management honor Jochen Goetz as a highly valued person and outstanding personality in the successful positioning and development of Daimler Truck as an independent company,” Daimler Truck said in a statement.

The company said Goetz died in a tragic incident on Saturday, 5 August. He leaves behind his wife and two children.

Goetz had been a s Member of the Board of Management of Daimler Truck Holding AG since 12 July 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.

“The death of Jochen Goetz is a tremendous loss for Daimler Truck, both personally and professionally. I have known Jochen for more than 20 years and have always worked with him in various functions in an excellent manner,” said Martin Daum, chairman of the Board of Management of Daimler Truck Holding AG.

“Jochen 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,” he said.

“His high level of professionalism as well as his positive, engaging manner have characterized him. His profession was his mission. Jochen 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.”

Goetz spent his entire professional career at the Daimler Group for over 36 years. He was decisively responsible for the successful spin-off of Daimler Truck Holding AG from today’s Mercedes-Benz Group AG in December 2021.

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, Goetz took over the position of director finance & controlling Trucks NAFTA at Daimler Trucks North America in Portland, Oregon (U.S.) in 2012.

In 2015, Goetz moved from a position at Mercedes-Benz Cars back to the commercial vehicle division of Daimler AG and became vice president finance & controlling Daimler Trucks and Buses. After his appointment as executive vice president finance & controlling Daimler Trucks & Buses in 2018, 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.