Observed Signal · Sep 23, 2026 · Hiring · Source: Meedia · Impact: 2/5 · Sentiment: Neutral
Nina Gerhardt Takes Lead of Vaunet Radio Division
Nina Gerhardt, CEO of RTL Radio Deutschland, has been elected to lead the Radio and Audio Services division of Vaunet, the German private media association. She succeeds Marco Maier, CEO of FFH Mediengruppe, who did not seek re-election after six years. Gerhardt remains deputy chair of the Vaunet board. The association's board chair, Claus Grewenig of RTL Deutschland, was re-elected unanimously. Gerhardt advocates for regulation tailored to the audio market, emphasizing the discoverability of private radio on digital platforms and in cars, and calls for fair competition with public broadcasters. Matthias Heinze of Warner Bros. Discovery was elected treasurer, succeeding Kristina Freymuth. The article also highlights Vaunet's ongoing push for favorable regulatory conditions for private media.
Industry association leadership change and regulatory advocacy, relevant to German media and advertising industry but not a major adtech event.
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Key Takeaways & Evidence Grounding
- Nina Gerhardt, CEO of RTL Radio Deutschland, elected chair of Vaunet's Radio and Audio Services division.
- Marco Maier, CEO of FFH Mediengruppe, steps down after six years but remains deputy chair.
- Claus Grewenig, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer of RTL Deutschland, re-elected as Vaunet board chair.
- Matthias Heinze, SVP Commercial & Managing Director GSA at Warner Bros. Discovery, elected treasurer.
- Vaunet member assembly took place in Berlin on September 23, 2026.
Connected Companies & Entities
3 Entities mapped“Matthias Heinze, SVP Commercial & Managing Director GSA at Warner Bros. Discovery, was elected treasurer....”
“Michael Müller from ProSiebenSat.1 continues to lead the TV and Multimedia division....”
Ontology Mapping & Concepts
Related Market Signals & Shifts
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VAUNET Re-Elects Grewenig, Gerhardt Leads Radio Sector
At the VAUNET general meeting, Claus Grewenig, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer of RTL Deutschland, was unanimously re-elected as chairman of the board. Nina Gerhardt, CEO of RTL Radio Deutschland, took over the chair of the Radio sector from Marco Maier, who remains as her deputy. Michael Müller of ProSiebenSat.1 continues to lead the TV & Multimedia sector, with Sebastian Kocks as deputy. Matthias Heinze of Warner Bros. Discovery assumed the role of treasurer. The meeting included guest Jan Ole Püschel, who emphasized the importance of a diverse media landscape. Leaders called for reduced regulation, fair competition with Big Tech, and improved discoverability of private radio offerings.
VAUNET Criticizes German Media Policy Implementation
At its annual get-together in Berlin, German private media association VAUNET celebrated but also criticized the political landscape. Chairman Claus Grewenig highlighted a 'grave implementation problem' in digital regulation, noting that 72% of digital ad revenues go to global Big Tech platforms. He criticized new legislative burdens instead of relief for private media, advocated for eased media merger rules, and urged faster implementation of the Digitale-Medien-Staatsvertrag (DMStV). Rhineland-Palatinate State Secretary Torsten Welling, who coordinates the Rundfunkkommission, defended the DMStV draft as a 'media policy masterpiece' aiming to create fair rules and address media concentration in the digital age. The event also saw a debate between Grewenig and Welling on platform regulation versus deregulation of private media.
RTL News responsibilities shift to CEO Stephan Schmitter
Following RTL Deutschland's acquisition of Sky Deutschland (effective June 1, 2026), the company has reorganized editorial responsibilities: RTL News, including ntv, and the Stern group will be consolidated under CEO Stephan Schmitter. Operational leadership of RTL News remains with Martin Gradl as managing director (who will now report directly to Schmitter rather than to Chief Content Officer Inga Leschek). Inga Leschek relinquishes responsibility for the news area but retains control over other content including sports. Deputy managing director Wolf-Ulrich Schüler, editorial leaders Gerhard Kohlenbach (RTL), David Whigham (ntv) and Susanne Althoff (deputy ntv) and Managing Director Isabella Thissen are part of the RTL News leadership. RTL says the change underlines the strategic importance of its journalistic brands such as Stern, GEO, Capital, Art and the digital Stern+ offering.
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