RTL Deutschland reshuffles leadership after Sky takeover approval
Following the European Commission's approval of the Sky takeover, RTL Deutschland is reshuffling its executive leadership. The newly formed management team, comprising representatives from both companies, is tasked with swiftly and efficiently integrating RTL and Sky.
Stephan Schmitter (51) will remain CEO of RTL Deutschland, as previously announced when the deal was unveiled in late June 2025.
Two Sky executives will join the management board effective June 1, 2026: Elke Walthelm (49) will take on the role of Chief Human Resources Officer, leading the People & Culture division and playing a central part in merging the two companies. Walthelm has worked for Sky Deutschland since 2005, holding various leadership positions before becoming Executive Vice President of Content in 2016. In 2020, she was appointed to the executive board and also took on the role of Managing Director of NBCUniversal Global Networks Germany. Since October 2023, she has served as Sky Deutschland's Chief Operating Officer, overseeing programming, technology, content operations, and human resources.
Michael Radelsberger (42) will assume the position of Chief Consumer Officer, responsible for the pay-TV business, which currently serves around 12.3 million paying subscribers across RTL+, Sky, and WOW. Radelsberger has been with Sky Deutschland since 2012, working in corporate finance and business development before becoming Managing Director of Sky Austria in 2022. Since July 2024, he has also led Sky Media as its Managing Director, overseeing all advertising sales for Sky Deutschland.
As of May 1, 2026, Julia Kloke (46) will take over as CFO of RTL Deutschland. She joins from Riverty, the fintech arm of Bertelsmann, where she has served as CFO since January 2023. Previously, she spent over two decades in various financial roles at Bertelsmann Arvato, most recently as Senior Vice President of Divisional Management Reporting in Corporate Financial Reporting.
Meanwhile, two long-standing executives are leaving the company "at their own request": Ingrid Heisserer, currently CFO and CHRO of RTL Deutschland, and Carsten Schwecke, Managing Director of Sales, IT, Data, and Technology, will depart "by mutual agreement," according to RTL Deutschland.
RTL Group CEO Thomas Rabe commented: "The merger of RTL and Sky creates a unique offering in entertainment, sports, and news across free TV, pay TV, and streaming. Our goal is to bring together the best talent, content, and processes from both companies."
The future executive board of RTL Deutschland will consist of Stephan Schmitter (CEO), Andreas Fischer (COO), Julia Kloke (CFO), Inga Leschek (Chief Content Officer), Max Orgonyi (Chief Transformation & AI Officer), Michael Radelsberger (Chief Consumer Officer), and Elke Walthelm (Chief Human Resources Officer).
