RTL Deutschland names co-CEOs as Bernd Reichart takes new role

Matthias Dang & Stephan Schäfer

RTL Group has named Matthias Dang and Stephan Schäfer as the new become Co-CEOs of RTL Deutschland, with former CEO Bernd Reichart leaving to take on new management responsibilities within the Bertelsmann Group.

Following its move to combine RTL Deutschland and publisher Gruner + Jahr in January next year, RTL Group has said that Dang and Schäfer will take over the leadership of RTL Deutschland as co-CEOs from 1 September.

Schäfer will continue to be responsible for RTL Deutschland’s content and brands, including its journalistic offering. He will also remain CEO of Gruner + Jahr.

Dang will continue to lead all commercial, technological and digital activities of the company. He will also remain CEO of the advertising sales house Ad Alliance.

Oliver Radtke, managing director of Gruner + Jahr, will additionally become a member of the management board of RTL Deutschland, responsible for the overall coordination of the combination of RTL Deutschland and the publishing outfit.

Julia Reuter, MD of strategy, HR and culture, and Alexander Glatz, chief financial officer, will remain members of the management board of RTL Deutschland.

Thomas Rabe, CEO of RTL Group, said: “By combining RTL Deutschland and Gruner + Jahr, we are creating Germany’s first cross-media champion and making a clear commitment towards long-term growth and greater investment in quality content, diversity and pluralism of opinion. For this important task, we have created a new leadership structure.”