Michael Voss leaves Ringier
Michael Voss, CEO of Publishing and Entertainment and a member of Ringier's Group Executive Board, is leaving the company. The separation is by mutual agreement.
Voss, a German national, joined Ringier in January 2010 as "Head of Corporate Development and Strategy Ringier Switzerland" In this function, he was a member of the Executive Board of Ringier Switzerland and Germany. As of April 2011, Voss was appointed COO of Ringier Switzerland and Germany. From July 2012, he was additionally responsible for the Entertainment division (including TV, radio, sports marketing, ticketing) and became a member of the Group Executive Board at Ringier. In July 2014, Voss was appointed CEO Publishing and Entertainment. As part of this function, he sat on numerous boards of directors of the Ringier Group.
"Michael Voss is leaving the media company for personal and family reasons," a Ringier release said Tuesday. Michael Voss was CEO-designate of the planned joint venture with Axel Springer Schweiz (Ringier Axel Springer Medien Schweiz), which has yet to be reviewed by the Competition Commission. "Against this background, it was mutually decided between Ringier and Michael Voss to complete the separation already now," the release continues. This in order to calmly determine the future CEO of the planned company.
The fact that Voss will not be the boss does not affect the realization of the joint venture. Ringier spokesman Edi Estermann told SDA that it is contractually agreed that Ringier is entitled to appoint the CEO. The search is now on.
Ringier CEO Walder will personally take over the interim management of the Group's Publishing and Entertainment divisions. Within the Publishing division, Alexander Theobald, Head Operations & Business Development, will take over the interim management of the Blick Group. These arrangements are effective immediately. Marc Walder, CEO Ringier, on the departure: "Michael Voss has been instrumental in shaping and driving the transformation of our company over the past five years. He did this both as COO of Ringier Switzerland and most recently as a member of the Group Executive Board of the two Group divisions Publishing and Entertainment. He personally drove forward many further developments and transactions successfully and competently. On behalf of the entire company, I would like to thank him for his extraordinary work and enormous commitment. I wish him all the best and continued success for his professional and private future."
