Thomas Coesfeld
| Thomas Coesfeld | |
|---|---|
| Born | 11 May 1990 |
| 🎓 Alma mater | WHU – Otto Beisheim School of Management (B.Sc., M.Sc.) Emory University (MBA) |
| 💼 Occupation | Business executive |
| Title | CEO of BMG Designated Chairman and CEO of Bertelsmann |
Thomas Coesfeld (born 11 May 1990) is a German business executive and a member of the Bertelsmann founding family. He currently serves as the Chief Executive Officer of the music company BMG and as a member of the Executive Board of Bertelsmann.[1] In November 2025, he was appointed as the future Chairman and CEO of Bertelsmann SE & Co. KGaA, effective 1 January 2027.[2][3]
Early life and education
Coesfeld was born on 11 May 1990 and represents the seventh generation of the Bertelsmann-Mohn dynasty. He is the grandson of the long-time company patriarch Reinhard Mohn.[4]
He received his primary academic training at the WHU – Otto Beisheim School of Management, where he earned both a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Science in General Management.[5] He later completed a Master of Business Administration (MBA) at the Goizueta Business School of Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia.[6]
Career
Coesfeld began his professional career in 2014 as a management consultant at McKinsey & Company in Munich.[7] In 2016, he joined Bertelsmann via the company's "Entrepreneur Program," serving in various units including the U.S.-based education provider Relias and the music subsidiary BMG.[5] Between 2017 and 2020, he held leadership positions within the group's printing division, serving as Vice President of Sales at Mohn Media and Chief Strategy Officer (CSO) of the Bertelsmann Printing Group DACH, where he oversaw strategic restructuring processes.[8]
In October 2020, Coesfeld joined the executive board of BMG, initially as Deputy CFO, before being promoted to CFO in April 2021. He succeeded Hartwig Masuch as CEO of BMG on 1 July 2023.[9] The Financial Times described his appointment as a "good choice" for BMG's financial management due to his deep understanding of the business.[10]
On 13 November 2025, the Bertelsmann Supervisory Board appointed Coesfeld as the future Chairman and CEO of the entire group, to succeed Thomas Rabe on 1 January 2027.[11] He will continue to lead BMG as CEO in a dual capacity alongside his role as group Chairman.[9] French business daily Les Échos noted that his primary challenges would include managing the impact of artificial intelligence and navigating competition from streaming giants like Netflix.[2]
During his tenure, BMG secured significant music catalogs, including works by Paul Simon, Tina Turner, and John Legend.[12] In 2024, Coesfeld was recognized by Billboard as an "International Power Player" and an "Indie Power Player" for his contributions to the global music industry.[10] The German business newspaper Handelsblatt previously named him one of its "Managers of the Future."[10]
References
- ↑ "Thomas Coesfeld Appointed to Bertelsmann Executive Board". Bertelsmann SE & Co. KGaA. 2024-07-04. Retrieved 2026-02-03.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Behr, Jean-Philippe (2025-11-13). "Bertelsmann va être dirigé par un membre de la famille Mohn pour la première fois depuis 45 ans". Les Échos (in français). Retrieved 2026-02-03.
- ↑ "Bertelsmann: Thomas Coesfeld wird neuer Vorstandschef". Der Spiegel (in Deutsch). 2025-11-13. Retrieved 2026-02-03.
- ↑ "Enkel von Firmenpatriarch wird neuer Vorstandschef von Bertelsmann". Die Zeit (in Deutsch). 2025-11-13. Retrieved 2026-02-03.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Management Board: Thomas Coesfeld". Bertelsmann SE & Co. KGaA. Retrieved 2026-02-03.
- ↑ "Thomas Coesfeld to succeed Hartwig Masuch as CEO of BMG". Headliner Magazine. 2023-05-17. Retrieved 2026-02-03.
- ↑ "Thomas Coesfeld wird neuer Vorstandsvorsitzender von Bertelsmann". Börsenblatt (in Deutsch). 2025-11-13. Retrieved 2026-02-03.
- ↑ "Thomas Coesfeld wird neuer Bertelsmann-CEO". Leadersnet (in Deutsch). 2025-11-13. Retrieved 2026-02-03.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 "Confirmed: Thomas Coesfeld will continue to lead BMG in dual role". Music Business Worldwide. 2025-11-13. Retrieved 2026-02-03.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 "The Music Entrepreneur – A Portrait of Thomas Coesfeld". Bertelsmann SE & Co. KGaA. 2024-07-04. Retrieved 2026-02-03.
- ↑ "Thomas Coesfeld to Become New Chairman and CEO of Bertelsmann". The Straits Times. 2025-11-19. Retrieved 2026-02-03.
- ↑ "Wie Thomas Coesfeld BMG mit Katalog-Deals zum Erfolg führt". turi2 / FAZ (in Deutsch). 2024-10-10. Retrieved 2026-02-03.
External links
Category:1990 births Category:Living people Category:German business executives Category:Bertelsmann people Category:Emory University alumni Category:WHU – Otto Beisheim School of Management alumni Category:People from Gütersloh
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