 |
|
| Christian Jünger (photo: Frank Hanewacker) |
|
Christian Jünger has been named CEO of Penguin Random House Verlagsgruppe, which includes such imprints as Goldmann, Hörverlag, Heyne, Prestel, and C. Bertelsmann. The appointment is effective October 1. Jünger, who will also join PRH's global executive committee, has been managing director of Holtzbrinck's Rowohlt imprint since 2021. Earlier he was head of vendor management in Amazon's book division and started his career as the executive assistant to the CEO of the PRH Verlagsgruppe before moving to Bertelsmann's corporate development and growth regions team.
In an announcement to staff about the appointment, PRH CEO Nihar Malaviya commented: "The unique combination of Christian's experiences in the book industry makes him ideally suited for this role. As managing director at Rowohlt, Christian has not only improved their financial performance; he has also created an environment for collaborative leadership with the other members of their board. He possesses a keen understanding of the retail side of our business." And his appointment marks a return to Bertelsmann and the Verlagsgruppe.
Malaviya added: "On a personal note, when I met with Christian to discuss this opportunity, we immediately connected, and I was drawn to his warm style and strategic approach. Our conversation was ranging and insightful, but what resonated with me the most was how deeply and meaningfully he spoke about the importance of books in our society and our responsibility as publishers to launch diverse views into the world. For Christian, and for me, that is achieved by elevating our creatives--authors and employees--and centering our imprints at the heart of our business. Our autonomous and independent publishers are in the best position to attract and acquire the greatest books, authors, and employee talent, especially when given the resources to flourish. I fully support Christian's vision for strengthening our focus on our imprints while continuing to enhance the central services we can offer."