thyssenkrupp said Tuesday that chief commercial officer Bernhard Osburg will take over chairmanship from Premal Desai, who will step down on 29 February 2020. thyssenkrupp said Desai and thyssenkrupp agreed to part ways owing to “differing views on the direction of the steel business.” 

Osburg has served as thyssenkrupp Steel Europe’s chief commercial officer since 2019 and was previously responsible for sales management of the steel business.

Additionally, the company has named Carsten Evers as chief financial officer of thyssenkrupp Steel Europe AG. Previously, Evers served as CFO of thyssenkrupp’s automotive technology division.

Dr. Klaus Keysberg chairman of thyssenkrupp Steel Europe’s supervisory board said the despite the change, the company remains committed to restructuring its steel unit. 

“The strategy developed by the steel executive board last December remains the right one. Its implementation – as announced – is our top priority. There has been no change in this regard,” he said. 

“This is particularly true against the background of the current business situation in a difficult economic environment which poses particular challenges for the steel business. We are continuing our talks with co-determination on the steel strategy with unchanged intensity.”