Press Release

Press Release | Gütersloh, 08/17/2022

Stephan Schäfer Resigns from Bertelsmann Group Management Committee

  • The top-level committee now comprises 20 top executives from eight nations

Gütersloh, August 17, 2022 – With his departure from the Executive Board of RTL Deutschland, Stephan Schäfer is also leaving Bertelsmann’s Group Management Committee (GMC). Upon his appointment as CEO of Gruner + Jahr in April 2021, Schäfer had become a member of the committee, which reports directly to the Bertelsmann Executive Board and advises and supports it on matters of Group strategy and development. As a result, the GMC will from now on comprise 20 senior executives of eight different nationalities.

Thomas Rabe said: “I would like to thank Stephan Schäfer for his efforts on the Group Management Committee as well, and for the input he has given to the committee’s work with his background in journalism and business. I wish him all the very best for the future and am pleased that he will continue to support our company in an advisory capacity.”

Stephan Schäfer, 48, joined Gruner + Jahr in 2009 as Editor-in-Chief and Publishing Director. He took over the post of Chief Product Officer on the Executive Board in 2013. In February 2019, in addition to his duties at G+J, he was appointed Managing Director Content & Brands at RTL Deutschland. In this role, Schäfer was responsible for RTL Deutschland’s broadcaster portfolio, audio offerings, marketing, production management and program purchasing. He was appointed CEO of Gruner + Jahr in April 2021, and Co-CEO of RTL Deutschland in September of the same year.

Bertelsmann’s Group Management Committee now comprises the following members:

  • Thomas Rabe, Chairman & CEO of Bertelsmann and CEO of RTL Group
  • Jan Altersten, Chief Executive Officer von Arvato Financial Solutions
  • Núria Cabutí, CEO of Penguin Random House Grupo Editorial
  • Carsten Coesfeld, Chief Executive Officer of Bertelsmann Investments
  • Matthias Dang, Co-CEO of RTL Deutschland
  • Markus Dohle, CEO of Penguin Random House
  • Elmar Heggen, COO and Vice Chairman of RTL Group
  • Rolf Hellermann, Chief Financial Officer of Bertelsmann
  • Immanuel Hermreck, Chief Human Resources Officer of Bertelsmann
  • Dirk Kemmerer, CEO of Bertelsmann Printing Group
  • Kay Krafft, CEO of Bertelsmann Education Group
  • Annabelle Yu Long, Managing Partner of Bertelsmann Asia Investments
  • Hartwig Masuch, CEO of BMG
  • Madeline McIntosh, CEO of Penguin Random House U.S.
  • Shobhna Mohn, Chief Strategy Officer Bertelsmann Investments
  • Jennifer Mullin, CEO Fremantle
  • Gail Rebuck, Group Creative Coordinator
  • Frank Schirrmeister, CEO of Arvato Supply Chain Solutions
  • Karin Schlautmann, Executive Vice President Corporate Communications at Bertelsmann
  • Nicolas de Tavernost, Chairman of the Executive Board of Groupe M6

About Bertelsmann
Bertelsmann is a media, services and education company that operates in about 50 countries around the world. It includes the entertainment group RTL Group, the trade book publisher Penguin Random House, the music company BMG, the service provider Arvato, the Bertelsmann Printing Group, the Bertelsmann Education Group and Bertelsmann Investments, an international network of funds. The company has 145,000 employees and generated revenues of €18.7 billion in the 2021 financial year. Bertelsmann stands for creativity and entrepreneurship. This combination promotes first-class media content and innovative service solutions that inspire customers around the world. Bertelsmann aspires to achieve climate neutrality by 2030.