Thyssenkrupp chairman candidates decline job - source

FRANKFURT (Reuters) - A number of candidates to be chairman of Thyssenkrupp <TKAG.DE> have declined to take the job, a person familiar with the matter said on Friday, leaving the steelmaker facing a delay in filling a leadership vacuum.

An agreement with former Deutsche Bank <DBKGn.DE> deputy Chief Executive Marcus Schenck and former Bayer <BAYGn.DE> CEO Marijn Dekkers could not be reached, the person said.

Handelsblatt had earlier reported that both candidates had declined the offer.

Thyssenkrupp has been in a leadership vacuum since both its CEO Heinrich Hiesinger and Chairman Ulrich Lehner resigned last month. Investor sources told Reuters earlier this month the steel-to-submarine maker should find a new chairman no later than September, concerned that required restructuring measures could fall victim to the leadership crisis.

The group is now searching for a chairperson, who is supposed to lead the search for a new CEO. Preparatory steps for the CEO search are already underway, the person said.

Sources told Reuters earlier this month that Airbus <AIR.PA> CEO Tom Enders, who will step down next year, also declined the job.

A Thyssenkrupp spokesman declined to comment.

(Reporting by Christoph Steitz; Editing by Edward Taylor and David Evans)