Bertelsmann

Bertelsmann SE & Co. KGaA, commonly known as Bertelsmann, is a German multinational media company headquartered in Gütersloh, North Rhine-Westphalia. It is one of the largest media companies in the world, active in publishing, television and radio, music, and services. The group is privately owned and regulated by the Bertelsmann Stiftung, a charitable foundation created by Reinhard Mohn.

Ownership and governance: The Bertelsmann Stiftung holds the controlling stake and voting rights in the group, guiding strategy and long-term stewardship. The operating company uses the SE & Co. KGaA legal form to align its corporate structure with European governance norms.

Business units: The group comprises several major divisions. RTL Group operates TV and radio networks across Europe. Penguin Random House is one of the world’s largest book publishers, formed in 2013 from the merger of Penguin and Random House. Arvato provides services including customer relationship management, supply chain management, and IT services. BMG oversees music publishing and rights management. Fremantle, a TV production company, is part of RTL Group.

History: Founded in 1835 by Carl Bertelsmann as a small publishing house in Gütersloh, the company grew into a global media group through the 20th century. The Bertelsmann Stiftung was established in 1977 by Reinhard Mohn to manage family wealth and philanthropy. The Penguin Random House joint venture with Pearson was created in 2013. In the 2010s, the group reorganized under a European Company form to simplify governance and long-term succession.

Strategy and profile: Bertelsmann focuses on content creation, distribution, and related services, with a strong emphasis on digital transformation, international expansion, and acquisitions. It emphasizes responsible corporate governance with philanthropic oversight by the Stiftung.