(CelebrityAccess News Service) – Rolf Schmidt-Holtz, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of BMG, and Thomas M. Stein have agreed that Stein will step down from his position as president, BMG Germany Switzerland and Austria (BMG GSA) effective immediately.
Stein's successor will be Maarten Steinkamp, president International, who will report directly to Michael Smellie, chief operating officer of BMG. After several senior management positions at BMG Benelux as well as on a European and worldwide level, Steinkamp has served in the position of president International and is a board member of BMG since January 2003.
"I would like to thank Thomas personally for our good working relationship and for his tremendous contribution to BMG. He was an outstanding leader in the European music community, where he achieved great economic and creative success for BMG GSA as also evidenced by the company's strong market share. In addition to this, he also represented the interests of the music business with dedicated engagement through his many years of leadership in various industry associations," Schmidt-Holtz said.
Stein's departure from BMG does not affect his role as a member on the panel of judges of "Deutschland sucht den Superstar," the German version of the Pop Idol show.
Bertelsmann AG's music and television divisions are currently in discussions with Stein about possibilities for further collaboration so that Bertelsmann may continue to benefit from his experience and creativity. –Bob Grossweiner and Jane Cohen
