Big changes are afoot at one of the world's largest providers of web hosting services, the Germany-based 1&1 Internet .

The company announced on Thursday, fairly unexpectedly, that Andreas Gauger has stepped down from his position as CEO and chairman of the board after 13 years. He will be succeeded by Oliver Mauss.

As CEO of 1&1 Internet, as well as the company's subsidiaries in the UK, France and Spain, Mauss will be in charge of leading 1&1's international web hosting operations.

Mauss worked for Vodafone Group for over a decade, most recently as the global director of business product marketing. Prior to that, he held positions in product management and business development at telecommunication companies o.tel.o and RWE Telliance.

Gauger became chairman of the board in 1999 when 1&1 Internet acquired his German web hosting company, Schlund + Partner.

"Within a short time, Andreas Gauger has led 1&1 to become one of the world's leading web hosts, by defining a standard for user-friendly and cost-effective web hosting solutions and by developing and directing 1&1's successful international expansion strategy," said the company in its announcement.

Indeed, with over 10 million domain names, a milestone it achieved in March, and 47,000 servers running in its five data centers, United Internet-owned 1&1 is considered the largest web hosting provider in Europe, and one of the largest hosting providers in the world.

Earlier this month, 1&1 announced it is offering spring specials on a range of plans and products.