Bertelsmann Organizational Structure & Divisions Chart

Bertelsmann reports seven divisions across media, publishing, music, services, education and investments. Capital belongs largely to foundations, while voting rights are controlled by Bertelsmann Verwaltungsgesellschaft.

Bertelsmann organizational chart

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Bertelsmann's reporting structure as of 2026-09. Drag to pan, scroll to zoom — or open it in QueryChart and edit it as your own.

Industry: Media, services and education
Headquarters: Gütersloh, Germany
Founded: 1835
Employees: More than 75,000 (2025 company description)
CEO: Thomas Rabe
Revenue: €19.0 billion (FY2025)
Ownership: Foundation-controlled
Structure as of: 2026-09
Structure last reviewed: 2026-09-24

About the company

Bertelsmann SE & Co. KGaA is a privately held media, services and education group. Its 2025 annual report presents seven divisions, so the diagram follows that published portfolio boundary.

The operating chart and ownership chart are different. Foundations indirectly hold 80.9 percent of capital, the Mohn family 19.1 percent, and Bertelsmann Verwaltungsgesellschaft controls the meeting votes. Thomas Rabe remains CEO through 2026; Thomas Coesfeld is appointed to succeed him on 1 January 2027.

Seven divisions, with ownership explained alongside

RTL Group covers television, streaming and production, including Fremantle. Bertelsmann is its majority shareholder; RTL Group is separately listed, which differs from a wholly owned operating division.

Penguin Random House is the global book-publishing group and BMG is the music business. Arvato Group provides international services including supply chain and IT activities.

Bertelsmann Marketing Services, Bertelsmann Education Group and Bertelsmann Investments complete the seven-division view. Investments includes venture-capital activities and Bertelsmann Next.

Bertelsmann's foundation capital should not be drawn as a simple management chain. Its own shareholder description gives BVG voting control, while Bertelsmann Management SE is the general partner. The portfolio tree therefore stops at the division layer.

Key leadership roles

Thomas Rabe
Chairman and CEO of Bertelsmann through 2026 — Thomas Coesfeld is appointed successor from 1 January 2027; this chart reflects September 2026.

How this structure supports the business

The division view lets readers compare media, content, global services, education and investments without treating individual brands as peers of group-level businesses.

Explaining foundation capital and BVG voting rights separately prevents the common mistake of equating capital percentage with direct operational control.

Advantages and disadvantages

Matches the seven divisions in Bertelsmann's 2025 reporting.: A single tree cannot express the full BVG voting arrangement, listed RTL ownership and every brand within each division.

Interesting facts

Bertelsmann's 2025 report presents seven divisions.
Foundations hold 80.9 percent of capital and the Mohn family 19.1 percent indirectly.
Bertelsmann Verwaltungsgesellschaft controls the voting rights at the general meeting.
Thomas Coesfeld is appointed to replace Thomas Rabe as CEO in January 2027.

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Frequently asked questions

What are Bertelsmann's seven divisions?

RTL Group, Penguin Random House, BMG, Arvato Group, Bertelsmann Marketing Services, Bertelsmann Education Group and Bertelsmann Investments.

Does the Bertelsmann Stiftung run Bertelsmann?

The foundations hold most capital, while Bertelsmann Verwaltungsgesellschaft controls meeting voting rights; the operating divisions are managed separately.

Who is Bertelsmann CEO in September 2026?

Thomas Rabe. Thomas Coesfeld is appointed to take over on 1 January 2027.

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