Thyssenkrupp, Tata Steel near decision on steel JV board

Germany's Thyssenkrupp and India's Tata Steel are close to deciding who will lead their planned European steel joint venture, four people familiar with the matter said on Friday.

Settling on the venture's leadership has been delayed by a strategy crisis and change of CEO at the German industrial conglomerate, which has said it would split into two companies.

The holdup has riled the Thyssenkrupp workforce. A labour leader on Wednesday said there would be “trouble” if the matter was not resolved soon.

Andreas Goss, head of Thyssenkrupp's steel unit, is the front runner to become chief executive of the combined entity, which will be Europe's second-largest steelmaker after ArcelorMittal, the people said.