Spiegel managing director Frank's chair is shaking

 
Trouble again under the roof of the renowned German weekly magazine Der Spiegel. After editor-in-chief Stefan Aust was forced to resign in a very unpleasant dismissal scenario (see ), the agitator of the Aust affair is now under fire. Allegedly, Spiegel managing director Mario Frank's days are numbered. According to the German magazine Kontakter, the powerful Mitarbeiter KG has turned its back on Frank. Publishing director Matthias Schmolz, who has served alongside Fried von Bismarck as publishing director of Spiegel-Verlag since 2003, is rumored to be his successor. Schmolz is currently responsible for sales marketing, general administration, production and project development. Frank succeeded Karl-Dietrich Seikel at the beginning of 2007 and Spiegel Verlag has not yet officially commented on a change of management. However, Frank's relationship with Mitarbeiter KG is said to have deteriorated rapidly in recent months. Economically, the Spiegel publishing house is doing well, and Frank's critics do not deny his commercial competence.
The publishing house Gruner + Jahr has so far denied the rumors. The co-owner wants Frank to remain in office, G+J CEO Bernd Kundrun told DPA in Hamburg on Monday. Mario Frank enjoys full confidence and is in no way up for discussion, explained G+J CEO Bernd Kundrun on Monday. How much weight this statement carries, however, is unclear in view of Spiegel's special ownership structure. Mitarbeiter KG holds 50.5 percent, G+J 25.5 percent and the Augstein heirs 24 percent of Spiegel-Verlag