New Leadership: Thomas Rabe Takes Charge After Bertelsmann; RTL Group and RTL-Deutschland Now Under His Control
Here's a fresh spin on the article:
Hey there! Let's talk about some shaking things up in the world of German business. Matthias Dang, previously sharing the CEO gig, is gearing up to step into the number two spot under Rabe. Meanwhile, Stefan Schäfer, the other Co-CEO, is calling it quits. Rabe spilled the beans to the "Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung," sharing that he's all about broadening the leadership team and finding a long-term solution for the top dog position at RTL Germany.
Rabe's been cracking whip as the Chairman of the Executive Board at Bertelsmann since 2012, and serving as CEO of RTL Group since 2019. He's got big plans for the future, hoping to nail down the personality trait every CEO needs in the challenging environment they're dealing with. Rabe's got a temporary plan - no more than a year in the hot seat.
Rabe's got his hands full with the media, services, and education conglomerate Bertelsmann since 2012. In a nutshell, Bertelsmann covers a galore of TV stations, streaming services, and radio stations. But things aren't all peachy - the media industry's got some rough waters to navigate due to the gloomy economic situation, edging towards a recession. The slump in advertising, high inflation, and the Ukraine war have caused the European RTL Group to lower their outlook, expecting lower profits and revenue.
RTL brought Rabe and Dang together as a super duo for their crucial Germany business back in September 2021. Schäfer's departure from the company is on good terms, and he'll remain connected to RTL as a consultant.
Just a heads up, parts of this info may have gone stale since the April 24, 2025, filings. Matthias Dang held the Co-CEO position at RTL Deutschland until the end of 2023, and there's no sign of a "number two" executive taking his place. Documents from April 2025 are a bit light on the details about future CEO appointments at RTL Group. For the latest news on their leadership, it's best to check their official announcements or recent regulatory disclosures. Keep an eye on this developing story! 😎
- Rabe, currently serving as the Chairman of the Executive Board at Bertelsmann, has expressed a desire to broaden the leadership team and find a long-term solution for the top dog position at RTL Germany.
- Despite his role as the Chairman of a conglomerate that includes media, services, and education, Rabe is facing equally challenging financial circumstances in the industry.
- Rabe and Dang were brought together as a dual leadership team for RTL's critical Germany business in September 2021, with Dang holding the Co-CEO position at RTL Deutschland until the end of 2023, and no immediate successor appears to have been appointed since.
- The future outlook for RTL Group, due to the negative economic situation, decreased advertisement revenue, high inflation, and the Ukraine war, is less promising with expectations of lower profits and revenue.
