Generation change at Wanner

Generational change at Wanner: After his two sons Michael and Florian Wanner took over the operational management of CH Media two and a half years ago, publisher Peter Wanner (81) has decided to sell the media company to his two sons and daughter Anna as part of an early succession solution. All three of the publisher's children hold positions of responsibility in the company. Daughter Caroline, a practicing doctor, has decided not to take a stake in the company.

The parties have agreed not to disclose the sale price. Publisher Peter Wanner will remain Chairman of the Board of Directors. In order to facilitate clear decision-making among the new owners, Michael Wanner, currently CEO of CH Media, will receive the majority of votes.

Fifth generation takes over

With this succession, the fifth generation of publishers is now taking over responsibility for the media company. The founder of the "Aargauer Zeitung" (1836) and first publisher was Josef Zehnder (1810-1896), who was also the mayor of Baden (1863-1881). Two years before his death, the newspaper company passed to his grandson Otto Wanner Sr. In 1938, his sons Eugen and Otto Wanner took over, and from 1956 Otto Wanner ran the company alone. With the merger of AT and BT to form the "Aargauer Zeitung" in 1996, Peter Wanner, who had previously managed the Baden newspaper company operationally, took over the management and responsibility.

Amicable solution

The division of the estate has now been achieved by mutual agreement. Publisher Peter Wanner: "I am particularly proud of this. For months, we held talks and discussed options within the family, supported by external expert advice. In the end, all four children agreed to the solution. What more could a father want?"

CEO Michael Wanner: "My father built up the company and led it to its current size. We owe him a great debt of gratitude. We are aware of the special responsibility he has now given us. We look forward to managing the company together with him and continue to count on his experience and advice."

The media company CH Media, in which NZZ holds a 35% stake, comprises 18 daily newspapers and their online portals, including the "Aargauer Zeitung", the "Luzerner Zeitung" and the "St. Galler Tagblatt", the weekend newspaper "Schweiz am Wochenende", 10 newspapers, 12 radio stations, three regional TV stations and eight national TV stations as well as three printing plants. It also includes the news portal watson. The entire media company has a turnover of around CHF 400 million. In terms of market share, CH Media is number 1 in newspapers in German-speaking Switzerland, number 1 in private radio and private TV stations and number 3 in private news portals.