Bertelsmann’s Brainstorming Committee

Media giant Bertelsmann is setting up a group management committee to help its executive board with corporate strategy and development.

Composed of the executive board members and some of the group’s top execs, it will become effective Jan. 1.

It will be headed by Thomas Rabe, who on the same date will succeed Hartmut Ostrowski as company chairman and chief exec, and include execs from Bertelsmann’s core markets in Germany, France and the UK.

“We want to take advantage of the knowledge and expertise of select senior executives and include their counsel in all major strategic and business decisions,” Rabe explained.

“The international and complementary composition of the GMC will enrich strategic debate and intensify the dialogue with key executives.

“We want to take advantage of the knowledge and expertise of select senior executives and include their counsel in all major strategic and business decisions.”

The execs to take their places on the GMC include Mediengruppe RTL Deutschland chief exec Anke Schäferkordt, Random House Group UK chief Gail Rebuck and Nicolas de Tavernost, chairman of the management board of French broadcaster Groupe M6.

The GMC is still being put together and is expected to meet for the first time in March 2012.