Hubbert must retire, per company policy, at 65. Bernhard was supposed to be his replacement. Bernhard was dropped because his style rankled the unions, which sit on the board. His style is similar to Bob Lutz; he likes to be the center of attention. In the US we see that as a strength; in Europe is is a liability. By the way, Shrempp is an engineer, not an accountant. Anyone who thinks Daimler-Benz or Mercedes-Benz was some sort of "engineer controlled" company in the past needs to read Bernard Bellon's book, Mercedes in Peace and War. This sort of politics has played at the top since the very early 1900's. We M-B old timers used to quote "engineered like no other" as a joke when something on those '80s and 90's (the period in which the advertising slogan was used) cars broke.