Baz: Markus Somm now also publisher
Markus Somm will serve not only as editor-in-chief but also as publisher of the Basler Zeitung. At the same time, he will join the board of directors of Baz Holding. The company’s current chairman of the board, Filippo Leutenegger, is stepping down from his position.
The reason for Leutenegger's resignation is his election to the Zurich City Council. The new Chairman of the Board of Directors of BaZ Holding will be CEO Rolf Bollmann, as announced by Basler Zeitung Medien (BZM) on Friday. In addition, SVP National Councilor Christoph Blocher will remain on the board, which has been slimmed down to three members, as a representative of the shareholders.Six other personalities - with one exception, all from the Basel area - are leaving the board of directors. According to the announcement, the changes will come into effect on May 1.
Back in the black
Leutenegger's departure from management coincides with the completion of years of drastic reorganization and restructuring at BZM. The company, which had fallen into serious financial difficulties, is now back in the black and on a sound financial footing, according to the press release. The Baz as the "leading daily newspaper in the region with national appeal" has thus been saved. In the future, BZM will concentrate on publishing the Basler Zeitung and "Baz kompakt," which was launched in February. All other
Activities were sold or - such as the unprofitable newspaper printing plant - discontinued. Today, BZM still has 158 full-time positions in the editorial and publishing departments, according to the press release. The management will now also be adapted to the simple business model. In addition to Baz Holding, BZM also includes its subsidiaries National Zeitung and Basler Nachrichten. In the future, their board of directors will consist of Rolf Bollmann as chairman, Markus Somm and publishing director Sabine Galindo.
Leutenegger brought in as reorganizer
FDP National Councilor Filippo Leutenegger had been brought to Basel as a reorganizer in December 2011. At that time, the Basler Zeitung was taken over for a second time after 2010 by Tito Tettamanti, this time by his newly founded Medienvielfalt Holding. In July 2013, Christoph Blocher officially joined Baz-Holding by taking a 20 percent stake. Markus Somm was appointed editor-in-chief of the Basler Zeitung in August 2010. At the time, suspicions had arisen that Christoph Blocher was involved with Basler Zeitung. (SDA)
Image: Keystone
