Observed Signal · Jun 23, 2026 · Leadership Change · Source: Horizont · Impact: 1/5 · Sentiment: Neutral
Jan Wachtel Leaves Burda After Six Months
Hubert Burda Media executive Jan Wachtel will leave the company at the end of June 2026, after roughly six months in the role. Wachtel had been appointed at the start of the year to oversee Burda’s entire media business. The article, published by Horizont on 2026-06-23, reports the departure and notes Burda’s ongoing management turbulence; the available excerpt does not provide Wachtel’s reasons for leaving or name a successor.
Leadership departure at a major publisher is newsworthy for media buyers and partners but is not industry‑shifting.
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Key Takeaways & Evidence Grounding
- Jan Wachtel will leave Hubert Burda Media at the end of June 2026.
- Wachtel had served as CEO of Hubert Burda Media’s media business since January 2026 (approximately six months).
- The report was published by Horizont on 2026-06-23.
Connected Companies & Entities
2 Entities mappedRelated Market Signals & Shifts
Recent verified developments and strategic activity across this market segment.
Burda and Jan Wachtel Part Ways Quickly
Hubert Burda Media and Jan Wachtel have mutually agreed to part ways; Wachtel will leave the company effective 2026-06-30 after roughly six months in the role as CEO of the company’s worldwide media business. Burda said the split followed differing views on the strategic direction of Burda Media. Eli Varn will assume responsibility for the German media business and join the group executive team as Board Member for Media from 2026-07-01. Lydia Rullkötter will take over responsibility for international media activities. Supervisory Board chairman Marc Al‑Hames thanked Wachtel for his contributions; Wachtel’s next steps are unclear. The change ends Wachtel’s tenure, which began at the start of 2026 when Burda had hired him from Bauer.
Burda Verlag digital chiefs Elfi Langefeld, Martin Weese depart
Hubert Burda Media is losing two senior executives: Elfi Langefeld (Chief Product Officer) and Martin Weese (Chief Digital Officer) will leave Burda Verlag effective August 1, 2026. Langefeld leaves after 13 years, having led product and luxury & lifestyle brands and expanding the commerce platform Tracdelight. Weese, who joined Burda International in 2019 and sat on the Burda Verlag management board since early 2024, led digital consolidation across multiple brands and built paid-content and login/subscription strategies. Their departures follow an earlier announced exit by BurdaForward managing director Daniel Steil; the company has not yet disclosed successor arrangements.
Burda Shuts Down Burda Studios Production Unit
Hubert Burda Media has confirmed it will close its production arm Burda Studios, affecting 30 employees. The company cited continued declines in linear TV business and insufficient economic prospects for producing content for digital platforms as the reason. The decision follows several setbacks in recent years — including the end of the long-standing K1 Magazin cooperation with Kabel Eins in late 2024 and mixed success with recent formats — and comes a few months after Jan Wachtel became CEO of Burda Media. Matthias Lange was the last managing director of Burda Studios. Burda will continue producing the RTLzwei car show "Grip", but no longer via an independent Burda Studios company. External reports also suggest a wider potential reduction of roughly 300 additional roles across Burda's print and editorial areas.
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