A major leadership change hits Burda Media as CEO Jan Wachtel exits after just half a year. Eli Varn steps up to lead the German media business. Strategic differences drive the shakeup.
Media professionals tracking executive moves will note a significant shift at Hubert Burda Media: CEO Jan Wachtel is leaving the company only six months after taking charge of its global media operations. The company confirmed that Wachtel will exit on June 30, citing mutual agreement due to differing views on the strategic direction of the media division.
Effective July 1, Eli Varn will assume responsibility for Burda's German media business and join the group’s executive board as Vorständin Media. The company stated that Varn, an internal appointment, is expected to accelerate the ongoing transformation of Burda’s core publishing and digital offerings in Germany.
According to Burda, the decision to part ways with Wachtel was reached in consensus with the supervisory board, as both sides could not align on the future strategy for Burda Media. Wachtel, who previously held a senior role at Bauer, had been brought in at the start of 2026 to drive integration and transformation across Burda’s national and international media assets. His next career move has not been disclosed.
Supervisory board chair Marc Al-Hames acknowledged Wachtel’s contributions over the past six months, noting that he provided important momentum for the company’s media businesses, even though a unified strategic vision could not be achieved.
With Varn’s promotion, Burda is opting for continuity in its German operations. She will oversee a portfolio that includes a wide range of consumer publications and digital platforms, with a mandate to push forward the company’s transformation agenda. Varn expressed gratitude for the trust placed in her and emphasized her commitment to shaping the future of Burda’s German media business alongside her team.
Meanwhile, the company is also restructuring its international media leadership. Lydia Rullkötter will now take over responsibility for Burda’s international media activities, marking a return to more clearly separated national and international management structures. Burda indicated that further details on the new organizational setup will be announced in due course.
Leadership changes and strategic realignments are not uncommon in the media sector, as seen when Axios expanded its local news operations in the US to adapt to evolving audience needs and business models.
