About

Operating in approximately 50 countries around the world, Bertelsmann is a multinational media, services and education company that has 116,000 employees and generated revenues of €17bn in 2016. Among Bertelsmann’s portfolio of companies are the broadcaster RTL Group, the trade book publisher Penguin Random House (PRH), the magazine publisher Gruner + Jahr, the music company BMG and the service provider Arvato. Heading the legal function comprised of around 30 lawyers is Dr Thomas Götz, Bertelsmann’s general counsel and head of the legal department. Dr Götz joined the media giant in 1998 after a successful private practice stint at Davis, Polk & Wardwell in New York and now with almost 20 years of service to Bertelsmann, he has established himself as a trusted member of the executive management capable of delivering expert legal advice tailored specifically for the business. He took his current role in 2014 after working as co-head of M&As, contributing his profound strategic understanding when developing the company’s growth strategy in that role, according to sources. Dr Götz’s achievements at Bertelsmann include working on the acquisition of BMG in 2013 for around €800m, the sale of shares in RTL worth €2bn and the 2014 purchase of Relias Learning. More recently, in 2017 he was heavily involved in Bertelsmann’s purchase of a 22% stake in PRH, the world’s largest publisher, from its co-shareholder Pearson in a deal that will see Bertelsmann increase its share in PRH to 75%. With such landmark transactions under his belt, Dr Götz is held in high esteem by colleagues and peers alike.