In 1999, Esser was appointed as CEO of Mannesmann, where he oversaw the firm's hostile takeover by Vodafone.
[1] Despite his initial opposition to Vodafone's acquisition attempts, Esser ultimately agreed to a price of $180 billion.
[3] The payment provoked outrage in Germany, where executive salaries remained lower than in Britain or the United States.
In 2005, prosecutors launched an appeal in Germany's federal court, describing the financial award given to Esser as "unique in its level.
"[6] The case culminated in a settlement, with Esser paying 1.5 million euros in return for prosecutors dropping the charges levied against him.