Germany-headquartered media group Bertelsmann has appointed Carsten Coesfeld chief executive of Bertelsmann Investments, the subsidiary which oversees its corporate venturing activities.
Bertelsmann Investments is the umbrella for Bertelsmann Asia Investments, Bertelsmann India Investments, Bertelsmann Brazil Investments and the globally-focused Bertelsmann Digital Media Investments, which have jointly racked up some 300 direct and indirect investments on behalf of the corporate.
Coesfeld will take the reins at the start of June 2022. He is currently chief executive of Dorling Kindersley, a non-fiction publishing subsidiary of Bertelsmann, taking the post in early 2020 after four years as president of supply chain services provider Arvato, also part of the group.
Although he has ample management experience, Coesfield’s investment activity appears to be limited to eight months as an analyst at Goldman Sachs Private Equity across 2009 and 2010.
However, the role will also involve Coesfield heading up Bertelsmann Next, a vehicle tasked with developing new business strands within the corporation and identifying growth trends. It is initially concentrating on digital health.
Coesfeld will report directly to Bertelsmann chairman and chief executive Thomas Rabe, who said: “I am very pleased that Carsten Coesfeld, an internationally experienced manager, is taking over the leadership of Bertelsmann Investments.
“In his previous leadership positions at Arvato and Penguin Random House, he has led existing businesses to more growth and higher profitability and successfully developed new businesses.
“I wish him every success in his new role at the head of a strong team. In addition, I look forward to working with Carsten Coesfeld on the [group management committee] and to the impetus he will give to the work of this strategically important body.”
Photo of Carsten Coesfeld courtesy of Bertelsmann SE & Co. KGaA.
