Ringier appoints Christian Unger as new Group CEO
Christian Unger will become the new CEO of the Ringier publishing group. The 41-year-old will succeed Martin Werfeli in early 2009; Werfeli has been elected to Ringier's board of directors.
Christian Unger is to become the new Group CEO of the Ringier publishing house. As the Zurich-based media group announced on Wednesday evening, the 41-year-old will replace Martin Werfeli, who was elected to Ringier's Board of Directors, at the beginning of 2009. Unger had most recently headed MIH Internet Europe, a subsidiary of the South African media group Naspers. In this role, he was responsible for the entire European Internet division, which also includes the auction house Ricardo.ch.
Unger's career in the publishing industry began at the German Bertelsmann Group. From 1995, he was Managing Director there, responsible for two specialist information publishers. From 2002, Unger founded various joint ventures in Shanghai, Beijing and Hong Kong in China as CEO of Bertelsmann China. From 2005, he worked for the German retail and tourism group Arcandor and in 2007 moved to London as Managing Director of the e-commerce company Tradus. This was sold to Naspers in March 2008. So from January 1, 2009, he will now manage the good 7,000 employees of Ringier AG from Zurich.
Christian Unger is a German citizen, married and father of three children. His predecessor Werfeli has been with Ringier since 1977, and a member of the Group Executive Board since 1996. He was appointed Group CEO in 2003. According to Ringier, he is stepping down from the operational business at his own request at the end of the year.
On the Board of Directors, which is chaired by co-owner Michael Ringier, the 51-year-old Werfeli will join Vice President Uli Sigg, former Swiss Ambassador to China Oscar Frei, Jan O. Frøshaug, Hans-Olaf Henkel and Christiane zu Salm.
In addition, Martin Werfeli will remain Chairman of the Board of Ringier Print Holding AG and thus continue to bear direct responsibility for all Ringier print activities in Switzerland. As the media company further writes in its announcement, Werfeli will also remain the personal advisor to the Ringier family in the future.
Unger's career in the publishing industry began at the German Bertelsmann Group. From 1995, he was Managing Director there, responsible for two specialist information publishers. From 2002, Unger founded various joint ventures in Shanghai, Beijing and Hong Kong in China as CEO of Bertelsmann China. From 2005, he worked for the German retail and tourism group Arcandor and in 2007 moved to London as Managing Director of the e-commerce company Tradus. This was sold to Naspers in March 2008. So from January 1, 2009, he will now manage the good 7,000 employees of Ringier AG from Zurich.
Christian Unger is a German citizen, married and father of three children. His predecessor Werfeli has been with Ringier since 1977, and a member of the Group Executive Board since 1996. He was appointed Group CEO in 2003. According to Ringier, he is stepping down from the operational business at his own request at the end of the year.
On the Board of Directors, which is chaired by co-owner Michael Ringier, the 51-year-old Werfeli will join Vice President Uli Sigg, former Swiss Ambassador to China Oscar Frei, Jan O. Frøshaug, Hans-Olaf Henkel and Christiane zu Salm.
In addition, Martin Werfeli will remain Chairman of the Board of Ringier Print Holding AG and thus continue to bear direct responsibility for all Ringier print activities in Switzerland. As the media company further writes in its announcement, Werfeli will also remain the personal advisor to the Ringier family in the future.
(Pictures: Keystone)
