Daimler Nominates Avon Former CEO Andrea Jung to Join Supervisory Board

Daimler nominates former Avon Products CEO Andrea Jung as a member of the supervisory board, part of the company’s plan to increase female representation.

Andrea Jung left as CEO for Avon Products 11 months ago, but will remain senior adviser at the US company. Daimler nominated Jung to succeed Lynton R. Wilson after his board term will expire in April. Investors will have the option to vote for Jung and the re-election of Sari Baldauf and Juergen Hambrecht, who are the current board members.

“Due to her very varied past activities, Andrea Jung has excellent management and market knowledge,” particularly of North and South America and Russia, Daimler said in a separate statement. “Furthermore, she has extensive expertise in sales and marketing strategy, as well as branding.”

The German government pressures domestic companies to increase women’s participation in their decision-making. In December 2012, Chancellor Angela Merkel said she is losing patience as companies are avoiding appointing female directors and managers.

Andrea Jung, 54, was CEO for Avon Products from 1999 until April 2012, being the first woman to hold this position at the cosmetics company. In December 2011, Avon announced it plans to replace Jung as CEO as the company was dealing with slowing sales and possible bribery law violations oversees, but Jung remained CEO until April.