The FT has a long piece on Bertelsmann ceo Thomas Rabe as he “grapples with string of failed deals and staff unhappiness.” They lead: “Some staff at Europe’s biggest media group Bertelsmann have a cruel new nickname for its chief executive Thomas Rabe: ‘Rabenvater’ — raven father. The German term, a pun on Rabe’s surname, refers to a hard-hearted man who neglects his children.” The criticism comes following three uncompleted M&A deals — the most expensive of which was the blocked acquisition of Simon & Schuster — and was further inflamed by the severe cutbacks to Gruner + Jahr. “He […]
