(Telecompaper) Rene Schuster is stepping down at the end of this month as CEO of Telefonica Deutschland. The company did not give a reason for his departure and said his responsibilities will be taken over by CFO Rachel Empey and Chief Strategy Officer Markus Haas. Empey will lead the operational business, and Haas will prepare for the company's merger with mobile operator E-Plus, pending regulatory approval of the deal. Telefonica said Schuster will still be available in an advisory role to chairman Eva Castillo. Schuster joined Telefonica in 2009 and has led the transformation of the German business, expanding its position in the fixed market, launching LTE services and leading the recent IPO.