Bertelsmann names print arm boss as new CEO

Bertelsmann, the German media group, has named the chief of its printing division as its new chief executive.

Gunter Thielen replaces Thomas Middelhoff, who has left the group after a difference of opinion with its supervisory board over future strategy.

Thielen was the head of Bertelsmanns Arvato division, which includes offset printing house Mohn Media and Elsnerdruck, a paperback plant.

It also owns plants in Italy, Spain and the US.

Middelhoff had been advocating that the groups controlling family, the Mohns, should loosen their grip and seek a public listing for most of Bertelsmanns stock. The Mohn family currently owns 75% of Bertelsmann, which also owns broadcaster RTL, book publisher Random House, publisher and printer Gruner + Jahr and record label BMG.