Björn Bauer, seit 2019 Chief Financial Officer der RTL Group, wird voraussichtlich mit Abschluss der Zusammenführung von BMG und Concord CFO des neuen Unternehmens. Mit Sitz in Nashville und an den designierten CEO Bob Valentine berichtend, wird Bauer mehr als zwei Jahrzehnte strategischer Führungserfahrung in diese Rolle einbringen, die Finanzfunktionen des Unternehmens leiten und die Verantwortung für das M&A-Team übernehmen. Weitere Einzelheiten entnehmt bitte der angehängten Mitteilung von BMG und Concord im englischsprachigen Original:
BMG and Concord Announce Björn Bauer as Designated Chief Financial Officer of Combined Company
BMG and Concord today announced that Björn Bauer is expected to serve as Chief Financial Officer of the combined company, effective upon closing of the transaction. Based in Nashville and reporting to designated CEO Bob Valentine, he will bring more than two decades of strategic leadership experience to the role and will oversee the business’s finance functions and assume responsibility for the M&A team. Until the closing of the transaction, BMG’s current CFO, Mathis Wolter, will continue to oversee the finance function and support the integration efforts, before subsequently assuming new responsibilities within Bertelsmann. Concord’s current CFO, Kent Hoskins, will continue to serve in his role until the closing of the transaction, at which time it is anticipated that he will take on another senior leadership position for the combined company.
Bauer will join from entertainment company RTL Group, which is majority-owned by Bertelsmann. At RTL Group, he currently serves as an Executive Director and member of the Executive Committee, and has been Chief Financial Officer since 2019. In this role, he has played a key part in advancing RTL Group’s transformation, including focusing the Group’s portfolio on its largest business units, diversifying its global content business Fremantle and building a profitable streaming business. He has been involved in all major transactions of the Group since 2019, including the recently approved acquisition of Sky Deutschland (GSA), and the sale of RTL Netherlands.
Thomas Coesfeld, designated Chairman of the combined company: “Björn brings a wealth of experience and a proven track record of delivering strong results through operational excellence and disciplined financial management. We are delighted that he is expected to join the combined company following completion of the transaction and look forward to the impact he will have as we continue to strengthen and grow the business. At the same time, I would like to thank Mathis for playing an instrumental role in shaping BMG’s strategic transformation, and for being a trusted partner to me and the executive team over the past three years.”
Bob Valentine, designated CEO of the combined company, said: “We are pleased that Björn is expected to join the combined company as CFO. His deep financial expertise will be invaluable as the company continues to focus on sustainable growth and long-term value creation after the transaction closes.”
Bauer said: “As the global music industry evolves, the combination of BMG and Concord will be uniquely positioned to capture new opportunities through its talent focus, entrepreneurial spirit and global scale, supported by continued investments in catalogs and talent. I am excited to join the combined company upon closing of the transaction, a pivotal moment in its growth journey. I look forward to partnering with the teams to drive the combined company’s next phase of growth and support its long-term strategic ambitions.”
Prior to joining RTL Group, Bauer held senior leadership roles within Bertelsmann from 2007 onwards, including the Group’s Executive Vice President of Corporate Controlling and Strategy. He also served as CFO at Relias, Bertelsmann’s US-based online learning provider, where he supported a phase of significant growth both organically and through M&A, following its acquisition by Bertelsmann. He started his career in management consulting and holds a degree in business administration from the European Business School in Germany.
About BMG
Founded in 2008, BMG reimagined the relationship between music companies, songwriters, and artists by offering fairer contracts, greater creative freedom, and unparalleled transparency in royalties and licensing. Now the fourth-largest music company in the world, BMG combines human creativity with cutting-edge technology to connect music with global audiences. With 16 offices across 13 key markets, BMG represents more than three million songs and recordings, including some of the most iconic catalogs and works from leading artists and songwriters, including will.i.am, Jean-Michel Jarre, Tina Turner, Jason Aldean, Jelly Roll, Paul Simon, and many more. BMG is wholly owned and privately held by the international media, services, and education company Bertelsmann.
About Concord
Concord is the world’s leading independent music company. The Company supports more than 125,000 artists and songwriters whose works are licensed, marketed, and performed globally. Concord's growing catalog of 1.3 million songs, compositions, sound recordings, films, plays, and musicals is one of the most impactful and culturally relevant collections of creative rights in history.
Concord is headquartered in Nashville with additional offices in Los Angeles, New York, London, Berlin, Melbourne, and Miami.
