Bertelsmann: Achim Berg will be taking on new professional challenges and is leaving the company at his own request and on amicable terms

Gütersloh, Germany, 10-7-2015 — /EuropaWire/ — Achim Berg, Member of the Bertelsmann Executive Board and CEO of Arvato since April 2013, will be taking on new professional challenges and is leaving the company at his own request and on amicable terms, with immediate effect. During his tenure and under his leadership, important decisions were made, including the expansion of Arvato’s financial and e-commerce services and the related acquisitions of Gothia and Netrada.

Christoph Mohn, Chairman of the Bertelsmann Supervisory Board, commented: “The Supervisory Board regrets Achim Berg’s departure, and wishes him all the best for his personal and professional future. In the past two years, Achim Berg has successfully advanced Arvato’s development and aligned it with Bertelsmann’s corporate strategy. Arvato can now build on this strong foundation. I would like to cordially thank Achim Berg on behalf of the entire Supervisory Board.”

Thomas Rabe, Chairman & CEO of Bertelsmann, said: “Achim Berg was responsible for an extensive change process at Arvato. Under his leadership, the company achieved significant strategic milestones. The acquisitions of Gothia and Netrada are examples for the successful expansion of financial and e-commerce services, two important growth platforms for Bertelsmann. Arvato’s businesses have great potential. On behalf of the Board, I wish Achim Berg continued success for the future.”

Achim Berg, CEO of Arvato, added: “I thank the Supervisory Board and my fellow Executive Board members for their support with the landmark decisions and changes of the past two years. We are parting on the best of terms. I wish the company and its employees all the best for the future.”

Before joining Bertelsmann, Achim Berg served as Corporate Vice President, Worldwide Channels Operator at Microsoft Inc. in Seattle, Washington (USA). He had joined Microsoft in 2007, and was in charge of the company’s Germany business. The business IT specialist’s prior career stations included executive positions at the Deutsche Telekom subsidiary
T-Com, as well as the computer manufacturers Dell and Fujitsu Siemens.

About Bertelsmann
Bertelsmann is a media, services and education company that operates in about 50 countries around the world. It includes the broadcaster RTL Group, the trade book publisher Penguin Random House, the magazine publisher Gruner + Jahr, the service providers Arvato and Be Printers, the music rights company BMG and the e-learning provider Relias Learning. The company has more than 112,000 employees and generated revenues of €16.7 billion in financial year 2014. Bertelsmann stands for creativity and entrepreneurship. This combination promotes the creation of first-class media content and innovative service solutions that inspire customers around the world.

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