responsible for the switch to electric, officially replaces Zetsche at the end of Wednesday's annual general meeting in Berlin.
Zetsche's departure marks the end of an era, as the 49-year-old Swede becomes Daimler's first foreign CEO in over five decades.
"Without Mr. Zetsche, Daimler would no longer exist," Ferdinand Dudenhoeffer, head of Germany's Center for Automotive Research, told AFP. "He saved them from insolvency."
Along with his bristling whiskers, Zetsche's breaks with the staid codes of corporate Germany—often making public appearances in jeans and Converse sneakers—have made him a household name.
Newcomer Kallenius has a more low-key approach, favouring suits and smart shoes rather than trainers.
But he will have to hit the ground running as Zetsche leaves him several issues to clean up.
'Not satisfied'
Sales figures worldwide are lagging behind record years, with net profits at the Stuttgart-based group tumbling 29 percent to 7.6 billion euros ($8.7 billion) last year.
"We cannot and will not be satisfied with the current level of profitability," Zetsche said in his parting speech Wednesday.
Earnings were sapped by massive investments in developing new models and new technologies like electric and autonomous vehicles.
The 'dieselgate' scandal must also be cleaned up.
Last year, Daimler had to recall hundreds of thousands of vehicles because of alleged illegal emissions manipulation, and faces ongoing legal proceedings.
Having announced Zetsche's departure last September, there has been a carefully co-ordinated change of the guard over the last eight months as he gradually handed over responsibilities behind the scenes.
If Zetsche's era stood for diesel engines, Kallenius needs to manage the switch to electric-powered vehicles.
Mercedes presented its first all-electric EQ brand SUV in Stockholm last September.
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