Ackermann has denied connection between this decision and his departure from Zurich after the death of the insurer’s chief financial officer

Josef Ackermann has stepped down from the board of Siemens two weeks after quitting as Zurich chairman following the suicide of its chief financial officer Paul Wauthier.

But the beleaguered Ackermann has denied there is any connection between his decision to leave Siemens and his abrupt departure from Zurich.

In a statement about his resignation, Ackermann said it was the result of “differences over approach and questions of fairness”, but did not elaborate any further.

In his suicide note, Wauthier had referred to his difficult relationship with Ackermann.

But the former head of the Deutsche Bank, has rejected any suggestion that he was responsible for the death, the Financial Times reports.

At the time of Ackermann’s resignation from Zurich, Tom De Swaan was brought in as acting chairman who stated that an investigation was being launched, into whether undue pressure had been placed on Wauthier.

Following a board vote on Wednesday (11 September), De Swaan’s position as chairman is now permanent.

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