m&k You took on your new role in May—what particularly appealed to you about Keesing Schweiz AG and the Küng puzzle titles?

Andrew Rushton Two things: the products and the people. I really enjoy solving puzzles myself and know what sparks that passion in me. I find it very appealing to release products that resonate with people on an emotional level. And when you get to do that with a great team—well, what more could you ask for?

You bring with you experience from renowned publishing houses such as NordSüd, Klett, Balmer, and Orell Füssli. What can you bring to puzzle publications from the book industry?

Every publishing house needs to know how to reach the right people with the right products, and that’s certainly no different at Küng Rätsel. The challenge of attracting new customers to ensure a secure future is also entirely applicable here. In the book industry, people are also accustomed to thinking and planning for the long term. Let’s see what concrete benefits this can bring.

Puzzles and games are currently booming—from the NYT to LinkedIn and Netflix. How do you explain this trend, and how is Küng Rätsel benefiting from it?

Puzzles and games allow us to take a short break from everyday life and complete a task—hopefully with a sense of accomplishment. In addition to physical activity and a healthy diet, it’s also beneficial to spend five to ten minutes each day stimulating and exercising the brain. With our products, we’re well-positioned to play a part in this.

While many newsstand publications are suffering from declining circulation, Keesing Switzerland is reporting stable figures. What is the secret to its success?

I think there are still many people who enjoy solving puzzles on paper or who actively seek alternatives to screen time. In addition, we regularly offer our readers new types of puzzles or issues with higher difficulty levels—ones that aren’t so easy to find or solve online.

Two new titles, «Küng Junior» and «Rätsel-Pause,» were recently introduced. What specific target audiences are you aiming for with these?

With the Küng Junior Puzzles, we want to give our existing customers the opportunity to inspire the next generation to enjoy solving puzzles—deliberately without a screen. The booklets offer a wide variety of puzzle types to try out. For many commuters, the «20-Minute Puzzle» was a daily ritual. Since it was discontinued, this offering has been missing. With the «Puzzle Break,» we’ve created a product that revives this experience on newsprint and in a handy format for the commute. While it isn’t free, it’s offered at an extremely affordable price.

Three English-language editions will soon be available at newsstands. How great is the international potential, and where do you plan to go in the medium term?

We’ll find out soon! We were given the opportunity to test English-language products in German-speaking Switzerland, and we took advantage of it. The «The Puzzle» series is mainly distributed in metropolitan areas with large English-speaking communities. That amounts to around 85,000 to 120,000 people in Switzerland. Many more might be interested in improving their language skills in a fun way. So it’s not being launched because of my Anglo-Saxon roots, but of course I’m also personally very excited about these titles.

You share management responsibilities with Tamara Mattiussi, who serves as CEO of B2B. How does this division of responsibilities play out on a day-to-day basis, and where do synergies arise?

The responsibilities are clearly divided. Tamara is in charge of the agency and B2B, while I oversee the publishing house and the B2C division. Nevertheless, co-leadership requires a great deal of coordination, communication, and trust. In my opinion, however, it also makes a company more innovative and stable and strengthens team spirit. I was fortunate enough to work in a co-leadership role at NordSüd Verlag for eleven years, so I have firsthand experience with this model. Tamara also brings many years of experience in such structures, and I’m confident that we’ll manage this very well.

The Keesing Media Group is headquartered in Amsterdam. What role does the Swiss branch play within the group?

We benefit from a number of key services, but we are largely independent in terms of our strategic direction and day-to-day operations. Since we also sell our products in Germany and Austria, we are able to generate additional solid revenue.

Digital detox and mindfulness are cited as drivers of the puzzle boom. Do you see analog print puzzles as a long-term counterbalance to the digital world?

To me, these aren’t opposites, but two sides of the same coin. Both will continue to have their place in the future. We should leave it up to our customers to decide when and how they want to solve puzzles. I see our role as providing exciting, distinctive, and contemporary puzzles. With raetselportal.ch, we offer a platform for enjoying puzzles even when on the go or without access to a retail location. On the other hand, we don’t want to push anyone toward digital channels; instead, we deliberately offer attractive alternatives using pen and paper. I’m happy to champion this cause with conviction.

What are your personal goals for the next twelve months at Keesing Switzerland—where would you like to make an impact?

First things first! There’s a lot I’d still like to understand better. At the same time, I’m convinced that even small innovations can create momentum without turning everything upside down. And if, in the end, I can competently explain how to solve a professional-level Sudoku puzzle, I’ll be pretty happy.

Andrew Rushton Keesing: Leadership Transition at Switzerland's Leading Puzzle Publisher

On May 21, 2026, the Board of Directors of Keesing Switzerland appointed Andrew Rushton as Publishing Director and CEO of B2C. He succeeds Daniela Sayer, who is retiring after many years of highly successful service. Rushton has been in office since May 1, 2026, and will work closely with his predecessor until the end of June 2026 to ensure a smooth transition.

Keesing Switzerland is part of the Keesing Media Group, headquartered in Amsterdam, and is Switzerland’s leading puzzle publisher under the «Küng Rätsel» brand, with titles such as «Schweizer Rätsel-Magazin» and «Mein Küng Sudoku.».

Experience in the book and publishing industry

Andrew Rushton brings many years of experience in the Swiss book and publishing industry. After eleven years as co-managing director of the Zurich-based picture book publisher NordSüd, he most recently served as program director at Klett and Balmer. Other highlights of his career include stints at the Stauffacher and Orell Füssli bookstores.

Together with Tamara Mattiussi, Managing Director of Rätsel Agentur and CEO of B2B, Rushton forms the new management team at Keesing Switzerland. Under his leadership, the publishing house will continue to focus on its loyal readership and provide them with high-quality print products at fair prices. At the same time, the company is evaluating new market opportunities to reach the next generation of puzzle enthusiasts.

Statements Regarding the Handover

Rushton expressed his enthusiasm for his new role: «I’m really looking forward to this new challenge. The publishing products are strong, and so is the team behind them. With great respect for Daniela Sayers» achievements, I’m full of energy as I look forward to what we hope to accomplish together in the coming years.”

Daniela Sayer, who is stepping down as publishing director after more than 20 years in the puzzle business, will be saying goodbye to a dedicated and friendly team: «I’m very happy that I can hand over my varied and exciting responsibilities to Andrew Rushton—and thus into good hands.» She adds: «I’m saying goodbye to a dedicated, motivated, and friendly team and to my highly valued, long-time co-director, and now I finally have time to solve puzzles.»