Gassmann Group aims to strengthen digital business
Gassmann expands its commitment to the digital sector. With the formation of the new business unit, the development and marketing of mobile and digital media products will be driven forward more strongly.
At the same time, Gassmann acquires the majority of shares in Mediancer, a Lausanne-based company specializing in the development of websites and apps.
The Biel-based print and media company is gearing its thinking and actions towards a mobile and digital future and is bundling the expertise that already exists within the Group in the "Digital" business unit. The aim of the new business unit is to develop existing and new digital products and services and to establish them successfully in the market. This complements the existing core businesses of commercial printing (Gassmann Print and Courvoisier-Attinger Arts graphiques) and media (including Bieler Tagblatt, Le Journal du Jura, Terre & Nature, Canal 3, Tele Bielingue). Bernhard Wüthrich has been hired to head the "Digital" division. Wüthrich has qualified experience in the management of corresponding areas and projects, including at Scout 24 and Ringier.
Gassmann acquires majority stake in Mediancer
As part of its digital orientation, Gassmann is acquiring a majority stake in Mediancer, a Lausanne-based company specializing in website and application development. Mediancer already has a long-standing collaboration with Inédit Publications in Lausanne, which also belongs to the Gassmann Group, for the production and publication of customer publications, both in print and for tablets and smartphones. This collaboration resulted in MiPadE, the market-leading publication system in French-speaking Switzerland, which is already used by over 50 magazines. The technological leadership position is to be further expanded and also made available in German-speaking Switzerland. Mediancer was founded 20 years ago by Lucie and Fiorenzo de Palma, two former Logitech employees. Fiorenzo de Palma continues to head the company's development division. Lucie de Palma joins the Technology Advisory Board of the Gassmann Group. Mediancer is now headed by Thierry Vial, Managing Director of Inédit Publications.
The acquisition will allow the companies in Lausanne to strengthen, further develop and expand their services in the digital sector. The Gassmann Group in Biel will benefit from the existing products in French-speaking Switzerland and will further expand their distribution in German-speaking Switzerland. With the acquisition of Mediancer, the Gassmann Group secures the necessary know-how to develop and offer state-of-the-art and contemporary products in future, increasingly digitally oriented markets, according to a statement.
