Markus Schäfer will remain at the helm of ZDF Studios: The contract of the current CEO and spokesperson for the management board has been extended early until 2030.

Schäfer has been at the helm of the company since July 2022. Together with co-managing director Karoline Meichsner-Sertl, he is responsible for the strategic and organisational development of the ZDF Studios Group. According to the company, the past few years have seen, in particular, a reorganisation of the internal structure, the streamlining of processes and a significant expansion of the integration between production, distribution and digital business models.

ZDF Director-General Norbert Himmler, who also chairs the Supervisory Board of ZDF Studios, emphasises the company’s strategic development under Schäfer’s leadership. He notes that ZDF Studios has established itself as a production and distribution partner of international significance in recent years. In particular, the closer integration of content production, rights distribution and digital offerings has been consistently driven forward. The extension of his term of office is intended to continue this course until at least 2030.

Schäfer himself also sees the extension as confirmation of the course taken so far and as a mandate for the coming years. The aim remains to further position ZDF Studios as a key global partner for content production and distribution. This will be underpinned by closer collaboration within the group, as well as a stronger focus on the market and customers, in order to tap into additional growth potential.

By extending the contract, ZDF Studios is prioritising continuity at a time when the international media and production landscape continues to undergo significant change as a result of digitalisation, the platform economy and shifting distribution channels.