Observed Signal · Apr 30, 2026 · Leadership Change · Source: DWDL · Impact: 2/5 · Sentiment: Neutral
Radio Bremen to Chair ARD; Gerner Named Chair
The ARD chair will pass from Hessischer Rundfunk (HR) to Radio Bremen at the turn of 2027, with Yvette Gerner set to become ARD chair, succeeding Florian Hager. The ARD has already distributed many chair responsibilities across multiple member broadcasters; during HR’s current term Radio Bremen is already a cooperation partner and will take the lead role in 2027 while HR moves to a supporting role. Radio Bremen is expected to hold the chair for one year, with NDR likely to assume the role in 2028 and 2029. Separately, the ARD-Generalsekretariat will be reorganized into an ARD-Geschäftsstelle effective 1 January 2027, directly attached to the incumbent chair and incorporating ARD corporate communications under a new ARD-Staatsvertrag implementation.
National public-broadcaster leadership change and administrative restructuring affect governance and communications at ARD but do not directly alter core AdTech/MarTech infrastructure or market-wide ad operations.
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Key Takeaways & Evidence Grounding
- Radio Bremen will assume the ARD chair at the turn of 2027.
- Yvette Gerner will succeed Florian Hager as ARD chair.
- Hessischer Rundfunk (HR) will shift from chair to supporting/vice-chair role; Florian Hager will serve as deputy chair.
- Radio Bremen is expected to hold the chair for one year; NDR is planned to take the role in 2028 and 2029.
- The ARD-Generalsekretariat will be restructured into an ARD-Geschäftsstelle on 2027-01-01, with ARD corporate communications integrated into it.
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ARD names leadership trio for new office from 2027
ARD member broadcasters have confirmed leadership for a permanent ARD-Geschäftsstelle in Berlin that replaces the Generalsekretariat and begins work on January 1, 2027. The restructured office centralizes administrative functions, the ARD strategy process and corporate communications to provide continuity as the ARD chair rotates and to reduce repeated team rebuilds; it was established under the new ARD state treaty. Christoph Rosenthal (38), who has worked in the Generalsekretariat since 2018, will serve as overall head; Christoph Hammerschmidt (59), currently communications head for the Hessischer Rundfunk chair and formerly at n-tv, will lead communications; and Kerstin Skiba (55), RBB's legal counsel since 2023, will lead the media policy department, the contact point for federal media and regulatory bodies, civil-society organisations and the new media council. Susanne Pfab will leave her role as ARD Generalsecretary after nearly 12 years.
Tobias Lammert Named Chair of ARD Advertising
Tobias Lammert will become chair of ARD-Werbung and managing director (Geschäftsführer) of the WDR Mediagroup on 1 August 2026, succeeding long-time director Michael Loeb, who leaves at the end of July. The change was agreed by the managing directors of the nine regional ARD advertising companies and reported on 13 July 2026. Reinhard Hild (MDR Media) and Anja Melagge (RBB Media) were named deputy chairs of ARD-Werbung. Thomas Schelberg (SWR Media Services) remains chair of the shareholders’ assembly/ARD Media, with Anja Melagge as his deputy at ARD Media. Frank Nielebock will serve as spokesperson for WDR Mediagroup management. ARD-Werbung unites the nine regional ad companies while ARD Media handles national marketing of TV, audio and digital advertising; the changes aim to strengthen and better coordinate national ad sales.
Florian Hager Sole Candidate for HR Director Election
Florian Hager, the current director (Intendant) of Hessischer Rundfunk (HR) and chair of ARD, has been nominated by the selection committee as the sole candidate for the HR director election on August 14, 2026. His current contract runs until March 2027, making a second term likely if the Rundfunkrat confirms him by simple majority. The Rundfunkrat held structured interviews and unanimously proposed Hager; council members may still, with a quorum of at least eight, nominate an additional applicant, though this is considered unlikely. At the same meeting the Rundfunkrat approved HR’s 2025 annual financial statements: an accounting surplus of €52.2 million reduced the equity-covered deficit from €329.3 million to €277.1 million, but HR clarified the surplus is a notional accounting result and does not improve liquidity.
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