After successfully developing Ringier Media Switzerland (RMS) over the past 18 months, the media house is entering its next phase this summer – a chapter fully dedicated to AI-driven digital transformation, operational excellence, and strengthened strategic leadership. Markus Wirth, currently Chief Operating Officer and a member of the Goldbach Group’s management board, will join RMS as COO and member of the management board in autumn 2025.
With over 25 years of experience in managing and developing companies, Wirth’s expertise spans digital transformation, technology, business development, and innovation. In his previous role at Goldbach Group AG, part of the TX Group, he oversaw strategy, data, buy-side technologies, engineering, operations, communication, and IT. He led teams of over 200 employees and significantly contributed to the growth of the advertising marketer Goldbach.
In addition to traditional COO responsibilities, Markus Wirth will also oversee content strategy and implementation. He will lead the content and media creation hub, print distribution, customer service, and business transformation, focusing on enhancing efficiency, innovation, and profitability across RMS.
Ladina Heimgartner, CEO Ringier Media Switzerland: “We are delighted to welcome Markus Wirth to our team. Markus Wirth has a proven track record in managing complex organizations and issues and is ideally positioned to lead RMS into its next phase of growth and transformation.”
Markus Wirth succeeds Roman Sigrist, who will continue in his role as COO of RMS until Markus Wirth officially takes office and then transition to the newly created position of Head of Business & AI Transformation. This internal shift reflects the company’s commitment to talent development while aligning leadership capabilities with evolving business priorities.
Further changes within the RMS management team
In connection with the bundling of content under the new COO, Steffi Buchli, currently Chief Content Officer and a member of the RMS management team, will leave the company after an orderly handover. Steffi Buchli has been responsible for the digital transformation of Blick Sport for the last five years. Most recently, she played a leading role in building up RMS and developing an editorial content strategy, which contributed significantly to the solid market position of RMS.
Ladina Heimgartner: “I would like to thank Steffi Buchli for her commitment and entrepreneurial spirit. She has played a decisive role in shaping the challenging build-up phase of Ringier Media Switzerland. Her leadership and vision, coupled with her energy, courage to embrace change and entrepreneurial commitment, have played a key role in shaping our content strategy and creating added value for our audience.”
RMS separates content and editorial responsibility for Blick
In a restructuring, content responsibility for the entire RMS portfolio and editorial responsibility for Blick are being decoupled. Rolf Cavalli, previously Head of Editorial Departments and Deputy Chief Content Officer, is taking on the new role of Blick Editor-in-Chief. He will lead the Blick newsroom together with Sandro Inguscio, Chief Digital Officer. Andreas Dietrich (Editor-in-Chief Blick Print) and Reza Rafi (Editor-in-Chief SonntagsBlick) will retain their functions. Thomas Balderer, currently Content Project Manager at RMS, will take over responsibility for the content area at the RMS level on an interim basis.
This strategic realignment reflects RMS’s increased focus on strategic direction, operational excellence and financial performance, and ensures that RMS remains well-positioned to meet industry challenges and seize new growth opportunities – both for readers and users and as an attractive environment for advertisers.
The goal remains to expand RMS into the leading and most innovative media company in Switzerland – with a broad range of topics, strong content, outstanding reach, and established brands. With an audience of almost 5 million users – more than half of the Swiss population – the constant development of new offerings and closer collaboration between media brands, RMS is already positioning itself as the preferred partner for advertisers seeking attractive and efficient advertising solutions.
About Ringier Media Switzerland (RMS)
More than 4.6 million readers use and trust the media brands of RMS. The portfolio includes Blick as well as the most widely read magazines and journals such as Beobachter, Handelszeitung, Bilanz, cash.ch, Tele, Schweizer Illustrierte, Landliebe, Glückspost, L’Illustré and PME. With its broad range of topics, outstanding reach and strong content, RMS is positioning itself as a future-oriented media company in Switzerland and, supported by the marketing unit Ringier Advertising, is already the preferred partner for advertisers looking for attractive and efficient advertising solutions.