SRG: Walpen to retire at the end of 2010

There will be two changes at the top of SRG. SRG Director General Armin Walpen will retire after 13 years at the end of 2010. At the same time, Deputy Director General Daniel Eckmann announced his resignation at the end of January 2011. Walpen told the SDA news agency on Tuesday that by announcing his resignation at an early stage, he wanted to create clarity and remove the basis for speculation. He had already made the decision together with his wife in November 2007.

Important tasks still pending
The 61-year-old went on to say that he still had a year and a half ahead of him in which he wanted to achieve important goals. The aim is to put SRG back on a sound financial footing by the end of 2010. The major media convergence project for radio and television has been launched and the quality initiative is being implemented. The generational change has now also been initiated.
SRG is successful in the Swiss market and does not need to shy away from comparison with providers in Europe. The services of Swiss radio and television will continue to be indispensable in the future. In the turbulent media environment, there is a great need for classification and credible reporting. SRG wants to be present on the Internet and expand its offering.

Succession
The SRG Board of Directors will appoint the successors to Walpen and Eckmann from fall 2009. The election must be approved by the Assembly of Delegates. Prior to the revision of the Radio and Television Act, the approval of the Federal Council was still required.

(Image source: Keystone)