To the point: bull's eye
The old aunt on Falkenstrasse is always good for a surprise. Only a few people were surprised when Conrad Meyer, Chairman of the Board of Directors, announced six months ago that a CEO was being sought. A position that had never existed in the past at NZZ.
The old aunt on Falkenstrasse is always good for a surprise. Only a few people were surprised when Conrad Meyer, Chairman of the Board of Directors, announced six months ago that a CEO was being sought. This was a position that had never existed before in the history of NZZ. The pressure of suffering must have been very great for Meyer to decide to take this step. After all, he was shaking up a management tradition that had lasted for decades. However, this long overdue step had only become possible when the NZZ's father Hugo Bütler retired. With Daniel Hofer, the publishing director, and Markus Spillmann as editor-in-chief, a new, young management team was hired. They were, and still are, faced with the enormous task of leading the Neue Zürcher Zeitung into the modern era, dissolving encrusted structures, preserving what was good and changing what was not so good.
But there is not only the NZZ, there is also the NZZ Group. In addition to the Neue Zürcher Zeitung, this includes Freie Presse Holding with its significant holdings in the media houses St. Galler Tagblatt, LZ Medien and the Zurich regional newspapers. These have a strong position in their respective regional markets and also make a significant contribution to the financial success of the NZZ Group.
The strong position of the subsidiaries meant that NZZ had relatively little influence on these titles. There was no sign of a joint strategy, and the company was kept on a long leash. It was clear to all industry insiders that this laissez-faire attitude could not be a successful model in the long run. The challenges posed by aggressive competitors, whether in print or online, are constantly increasing. A change in strategy is overdue. But this requires someone who can lead the entire Group operationally. A CEO, in other words.
For a long time, there was speculation about who would take over this responsible post. Names were bandied about, the rumor mill was bubbling. The choice of Albert P. Stäheli seems to me to be an excellent one. On Monday evening, I happened to meet Maili Wolf, the former Tamedia and long-time Ringier publishing director. She spontaneously said: "One of the best decisions Conrad Meyer has made for the NZZ. Polo Stäheli, a man with bite and the appropriate experience. The NZZ could do with such a lateral thinker."
Polo Stäheli now faces the major task of leading the NZZ Group into the future with a stringent strategy. It won't be easy, but Stäheli has proven in his long years in Bern how he can whip a sleepy store into shape.
Pierre C. Meier, Editor-in-Chief
pc.meier@werbewoche.ch
But there is not only the NZZ, there is also the NZZ Group. In addition to the Neue Zürcher Zeitung, this includes Freie Presse Holding with its significant holdings in the media houses St. Galler Tagblatt, LZ Medien and the Zurich regional newspapers. These have a strong position in their respective regional markets and also make a significant contribution to the financial success of the NZZ Group.
The strong position of the subsidiaries meant that NZZ had relatively little influence on these titles. There was no sign of a joint strategy, and the company was kept on a long leash. It was clear to all industry insiders that this laissez-faire attitude could not be a successful model in the long run. The challenges posed by aggressive competitors, whether in print or online, are constantly increasing. A change in strategy is overdue. But this requires someone who can lead the entire Group operationally. A CEO, in other words.
For a long time, there was speculation about who would take over this responsible post. Names were bandied about, the rumor mill was bubbling. The choice of Albert P. Stäheli seems to me to be an excellent one. On Monday evening, I happened to meet Maili Wolf, the former Tamedia and long-time Ringier publishing director. She spontaneously said: "One of the best decisions Conrad Meyer has made for the NZZ. Polo Stäheli, a man with bite and the appropriate experience. The NZZ could do with such a lateral thinker."
Polo Stäheli now faces the major task of leading the NZZ Group into the future with a stringent strategy. It won't be easy, but Stäheli has proven in his long years in Bern how he can whip a sleepy store into shape.
Pierre C. Meier, Editor-in-Chief
pc.meier@werbewoche.ch
