Chairmen of the Executive Board since 1971
On July 1st 1971, Bertelsmann was converted into a stock corporation. The family-owned company became a major corporation that is led by the management and governed by the supervisory board and the annual general meeting, as per German stock corporation law. All Bertelsmann Chairmen & CEOs since 1971 at a glance:

since January 2008
Hartmut Ostrowski

August 2002 - December 2007
Gunter Thielen

November 1998 - July 2002
Thomas Middelhoff

April 1983 - October 1998
Mark Wössner

July 1981 - March 1983
Manfred Fischer

April 1971 - June 1981
Reinhard Mohn


