By Eyk Henning
FRANKFURT--The former chief executives of two high-profile
German companies, Deutsche Bank AG and Siemens AG, have signed on
to run the holding company of Russian oligarch Viktor
Vekselberg.
Josef Ackermann and Peter Löscher, who both left their past
positions amid controversy, will join the board of Mr. Vekselberg's
Zurich-based holding company Renova Management AG, or RMAG, and
"mainly focus on managing [Renova group's] international assets,"
the Swiss firm's Russian parent company, Renova Group, said
Tuesday.
Renova's international assets currently consist of two Swiss
machinery manufacturers. The company holds a 44% stake in OC
Oerlikon Corporation AG and 32% of Sulzer AG's shares. A "number of
additional assets" will be added, Renova said.
Mr. Löscher, the former CEO of Siemens, will become CEO of RMAG.
Mr. Ackermann, formerly CEO of Deutsche Bank, will become a new
board member of RMAG. Two other new RMAG board members announced
are Orit Gadiesh, chairman of consulting firm Bain & Co., and
Vladimir Kuznetsov, who is on the board of Renova Group.
Mr. Löscher was ousted by the Siemens board in July following a
string of financial disappointments and strategic missteps. Mr.
Ackermann was one of the world's most powerful and controversial
bankers during his decadelong tenure at Deutsche Bank, which ended
in May 2012.
Mr. Ackerman stepped down in August as chairman of Zurich
Financial Group because he said he partially was being blamed for
the apparent suicide of the company's chief financial officer. A
probe at the insurance group later cleared Mr. Ackermann and other
board members of any inappropriate behavior.
The appointments of Messrs. Löscher and Ackermann provide RMAG
"with the best international management and governance practices
and will ensure its transparency and focus for the next phase of
development, involving further growth and international expansion,"
Mr. Vekselberg said in a news release. Mr. Vekselberg will keep the
role as chairman of the board of directors of his Renova Group of
companies.
Mr. Löscher said in a statement that joining Renova allows him
to be entrepreneurial and use his international experience. A
spokesman for Mr. Ackerman declined to comment.
Renova Group holds stakes in companies involved in
telecommunications, mining, financial services and other
industries.
Sarah Sloat contributed to this article.
Subscribe to WSJ: http://online.wsj.com?mod=djnwires