Overview

• Sandra Harzer-Kux, a former Bertelsmann manager, failed to secure the majority needed to become the next NDR Intendant, receiving 30 votes out of the required 34.
• The Rundfunkrat, which conducted the vote, criticized the lack of alternative candidates, a result of the NDR-Staatsvertrag rules governing the process.
• Current Intendant Joachim Knuth had offered to step down early on September 1, 2025, despite his contract running until January 2026, prompting the search for his successor.
• The Verwaltungsrat now has one month to propose a new candidate for the position, as the leadership transition remains unresolved.
• The NDR continues to face challenges, including financial uncertainty tied to disputes over broadcasting fees and criticisms of its organizational culture and governance.