The media group RTL Group announced in a press release this morning that CHRO and CFO Ingrid Heisserer will “leave the company at her own request and in the best possible mutual agreement”. She was part of the management of RTL Deutschland.
Her successor will be Elke Walthelm, the previous COO of Sky Deutschland (DACH). The new appointment is part of a comprehensive personnel change at the top management level. Two days ago, the European Commission approved RTL’s takeover of Sky without any conditions. This is now followed by RTL’s decision to comprehensively reorganize management from the end of June 2026 with the expected completion of the transaction. In the future, this will consist of representatives from both companies.
Ingrid Heisserer stepped in as CHRO in 2023
Ingrid Heisserer took over the position of CHRO from the outgoing Xenia Meuser in 2023 in addition to the position of CFO. In her role, she continued to restructure the company.
Before RTL, Heisserer gained experience in finance and controlling at L’Oréal for more than 15 years – most recently as CFO Germany Austria. Before her time at L’Oréal, Heisserer worked in controlling at Steelcase, a manufacturer of office furnishings and spatial solutions, and worked from France.
Her successor was previously COO at Sky Deutschland
According to the press release, Elke Walthelm will be centrally involved in the integration of the two companies. She comes from her role as Chief Operating Officer of Sky Deutschland, where she was responsible for program, technology, content operations and human resources since October 2023.
She has been working for Sky Deutschland since 2005. She has already held various management positions there and became Executive Vice President Content in February 2016. In 2020 she moved up to the company’s management and in the same year also took over the management of NBC Universal Global Networks Germany.
Sky takeover could mean more job cuts
The media group RTL had already announced in January that a total of 600 of 7,500 jobs would be eliminated company-wide. The reduction was related to the significant drop in advertising sales. RTL had already admitted last year that these had fallen by 20 percent since 2019.
The takeover of Sky Deutschland could even lead to further staff cuts, according to reports from the parent company. Bertelsmann boss Thomas Rabe told Handelsblatt yesterday that further cuts were to be expected with the takeover of Sky. In particular, the reduction in double structures will have an impact on staff. This often happens during takeovers or mergers, because administrative areas in particular are not needed twice.
All of these topics become challenging tasks that Elke Walthelm will have to tackle after taking office.
Tonia Schöler is a volunteer at Human Resources.
