Stock Exchange Release 9/12/2011 16:30
Sanoma has appointed Heike Rosener as the new CEO of Sanoma Media Russia & CEE and member of Sanoma's Executive Management Group as of 1 February 2012. Rosener will succeed Koos Guis, who will retire as of 1 January 2012.
Rosener (42, German) joins Sanoma from German media company Bertelsmann. She will be based in Warsaw, Poland and report to Sanoma President & CEO Harri-Pekka Kaukonen. Having Rosener based in the region enables her to experience local issues and challenges directly and close-by.
"I am very happy that Heike Rosener is coming on board. Heike is one of the few media professionals with a real sensitive feeling towards doing business in the region. We need to develop a multimedia portfolio, tackle the challenges related to declining magazine circulations and digitisation, as well as respond to the weakening general economic conditions. I firmly believe Heike is up for those tasks," comments Harri-Pekka Kaukonen, President & CEO of the Sanoma Group.
With a background in Slavonic and German literature complemented with a business education at HBS, Rosener gained experience in building up Bertelsmann's Professional Information activities in Poland and Germany as CEO of publishing house WEKA's Law & Tax unit, for which she implemented a turnaround programme. After a period as strategic consultant for international media companies, Rosener returned to Bertelsmann in 2002 when she became CEO of Bertelsmann Media Poland.
"I am excited to join Sanoma and build on the strong foundation Sanoma Media Russia & CEE has established in the region," Rosener states. "The market situation is challenging, but I have every faith that our experience paired with the skilful people of our business units will help Sanoma Media Russia & CEE to reach its fullest potential."
Sanoma Media Russia & CEE is focused on consumer media in nine countries throughout the region, with Russia and Hungary as the most important markets. Its business units have built up strong positions in consumer magazines and digital media since the early 1990s, and are piloting with television as well. In 2010, Sanoma Media Russia and CEE generated net sales of EUR 215 million.
Sanoma Corporation
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Chief Financial Officer
Contact information: Robin Janszen, Vice President, Communications, tel. +31 20 851 2126
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Sanoma inspires, informs and connects. As a diversified media group, we bring information, experiences, education and entertainment to millions of people every day. We make sure that quality content and interesting products and services are easily available and meet the demands of our readers, viewers and listeners. We offer a challenging and interesting working environment for nearly 20,000 people in over 20 countries throughout Europe. In 2010, the Group's net sales totalled EUR 2.8 billion.