Overview
- After 27 years as CEO, Rainer Esser will hand over leadership on Feb. 1, 2026.
- Esser will become Executive Adviser to Holtzbrinck and join DIE ZEIT’s supervisory board, while remaining managing director of DvH Medien GmbH.
- Current Chief Commercial Officer Nils von der Kall has been with the group since 2004 and joined top management in 2019, becoming CCO in 2024.
- The executive team from Feb. 1 will include Christian Röpke as chief operating officer and Iris Ostermaier continuing as chief financial officer.
- Under Esser, the group diversified into magazines, education, events and digital subscriptions, with Holtzbrinck crediting him with quadrupling revenue and DIE ZEIT reporting a record Q1 2025 subscription circulation of 499,722 and total sales of 636,600.