Matthias Graf will assume his new role as CCO of Ringier AG on 1 September 2010 and also become new media speaker of Ringier Group. Most recently, Graf served as head of  corporate communications Switzerland and head of engineering communications Europe, Middle East & Africa at Google. In that role he was responsible for building the communications activities of Google’s technology center in Switzerland and contributed significantly to the success of Google’s employer branding as one of the most popular employers in Europe. 

Graf studied history and German language and literature at the University of Zurich and also earned a Master of Science in communications management at the University of Lugano. He worked as an editor and freelance journalist for several years and after his move to corporate communications held leading positions at Sony Overseas and Dow Europe. Matthias Graf is married and the father of three children. 

Graf succeeds Marco Castellaneta, who served as head of corporate communications (CCO) since 2005. As already communicated in March Castellaneta now joins the management board of Ringier Switzerland as head of the business unit Ringier Entertainment. 

“We are confident that Matthias Graf with his proven expertise in the online world is an ideal choice to lead our group communications. Ringier continues on its way to become a digital media company, and this direction should be increasingly reflected in our communications activities as well”, says Ringier CEO Christian Unger. 

Within Ringier’s communications organization the communications team of Ringier Switzerland and Germany continues to be headed by Edi Estermann, former news director of Schweizer Illustrierte. 

Ringier Group Communications