Tamedia's new fission fungi
Oliver Classen on Martin Kall's liberation strikes and their consequences.
Oliver Classen on Martin Kall's liberation strikes and their consequences.
It can happen that quickly. At the beginning of December, Martino Bammater told this newspaper (WW 43/04) that he saw "no reason whatsoever" to deviate from the original takeover schedule. Less than two months later, the new Chairman of the Board of Directors of 20 Minuten (Schweiz) AG is Martin Kall - and Bammater, his predecessor by Schibsted's grace, can now devote himself entirely to his financial consulting business again.Kall is to be congratulated on this coup, as the weakening Tages-Anzeiger aunt can now finally rely fully on her niece, who is bursting with vitality. However, this coexistence of the generations (soon to be in the same room) is a source of controversy. The
Since taking over the first tranche of 20 Minuten almost two years ago, the real challenge for the Tamedia CEO has been to gain operational and strategic control of the commuter paper, which has gone from underdog to big seller.
Tamedia is also curious. For example, whose signature will the expansion of 20 Minuten to St. Gallen planned for the spring bear: that of the Group management or that of Rolf Bollmann, who is as reluctant as he is successful as managing director of 20 Minuten? The only certainty at present is that Bollmann's know-how is a key asset for the regionalization of the Tages-Anzeiger.
The acquisition of Winterthurer Landbote is also a liberating move with some potential for internal division. While the printing division will benefit immediately and sustainably, the deal only means additional costs for the newspaper business - at least for the time being (see page 17). This ambivalence is reflected in the share price, which fell slightly after the announcement of the double blow. In other words: not only the employees, but also the stock market players are now waiting for concrete integration measures and further signals of expansion from Tamedia's carpet floor.
> Oliver Classen, Editor
It can happen that quickly. At the beginning of December, Martino Bammater told this newspaper (WW 43/04) that he saw "no reason whatsoever" to deviate from the original takeover schedule. Less than two months later, the new Chairman of the Board of Directors of 20 Minuten (Schweiz) AG is Martin Kall - and Bammater, his predecessor by Schibsted's grace, can now devote himself entirely to his financial consulting business again.Kall is to be congratulated on this coup, as the weakening Tages-Anzeiger aunt can now finally rely fully on her niece, who is bursting with vitality. However, this coexistence of the generations (soon to be in the same room) is a source of controversy. The
Since taking over the first tranche of 20 Minuten almost two years ago, the real challenge for the Tamedia CEO has been to gain operational and strategic control of the commuter paper, which has gone from underdog to big seller.
Tamedia is also curious. For example, whose signature will the expansion of 20 Minuten to St. Gallen planned for the spring bear: that of the Group management or that of Rolf Bollmann, who is as reluctant as he is successful as managing director of 20 Minuten? The only certainty at present is that Bollmann's know-how is a key asset for the regionalization of the Tages-Anzeiger.
The acquisition of Winterthurer Landbote is also a liberating move with some potential for internal division. While the printing division will benefit immediately and sustainably, the deal only means additional costs for the newspaper business - at least for the time being (see page 17). This ambivalence is reflected in the share price, which fell slightly after the announcement of the double blow. In other words: not only the employees, but also the stock market players are now waiting for concrete integration measures and further signals of expansion from Tamedia's carpet floor.
> Oliver Classen, Editor
