ZDF is committed to continuity in its journalistic leadership whilst at the same time making several changes to its studio management. The Board of Directors has extended the contract of ZDF’s Editor-in-Chief Bettina Schausten’s contract extended until the end of September 2032. Schausten has been at the helm of ZDF’s editorial board since 2022 and thus remains responsible for the broadcaster’s editorial direction.

At the same time, ZDF is filling three studio management posts. Felix Klauser took over as head of the Moscow bureau on 1 September 2026. The former Russia correspondent succeeds Armin Coerper, who will in future head the ZDF bureau in New York.

On 1 October, [name] will take over Timm Kröger the management of the studio in Rio de Janeiro. He succeeds Christoph Röckerath, who is returning to the ZDF studio in the capital as a correspondent. Isabelle Tümena She will also take over as head of the Baden-Württemberg regional studio in Stuttgart on 1 October. She succeeds Anna-Maria Schuck, who has been heading ZDF’s Communications Department since June.

With the extension of Schausten’s contract and the appointment of new staff to the studios, ZDF is reorganising key journalistic roles for the long term.