BCN strengthens its executive team and appoints Stefan Betzold as Chief Digital & Product Officer (CDPO), effective May 1, 2026. In this newly-created position, he becomes a member of the BCN Management Board.

Betzold will lead BCN’s digital business development and take charge of BCN’s Digital Competence Center with a clear mandate to systematically expand monetization and marketing of the digital portfolio and to further drive digital transformation.

His responsibilities include developing digital business models, driving growth on existing and new platforms, establishing strategic partnerships, and implementing product and marketing strategies. At the same time, Betzold oversees the digital interface between Sales and Campaigning and the product and portfolio teams, translating market and customer needs into tailored publisher solutions.

Stefan Betzold: “I very much look forward to helping drive BCN’s digital transformation and unlocking new growth opportunities. In a world where content is created in abundance, strong brands and high-quality journalistic environments become the decisive differentiator – they give users the guidance that they seek and need. BCN brings together a unique variety of such media brands, thus providing the ideal platform for showcasing advertising partners in tailored, creative, and effective ways, in the right environments.”

Susanne Müller, Executive Director Markets at BCN, adds: “With Stefan Betzold, we gain one of the most prominent digital executives in the German-speaking media market. He will play a key role in the systematic realignment of BCN and the future development of our digital business. Stefan Betzold combines a deep understanding of media brands with extensive experience in scaling, monetization, and international business development. This is exactly the combination we need to accelerate the digital transformation of our portfolio, develop even more customer-centric products, and unlock new revenue potential for our advertising partners. I am very pleased that we were able to bring him on board at BCN.”

Carsten Sander, Executive Director Technology at BCN: “Over the past few months, we have laid the technological foundation for the next generation of marketing – with Smart Stack, with our early role in agentic marketing via Ad Context Protocol, and a data architecture that clearly positions us in the German market. With Stefan Betzold, we now gain a partner who will translate this platform into marketable products and new digital business models. Technology without consistent product and market implementation remains just a promise – with Stefan, it will become measurable added value for our publishing partners and advertising clients. I’m very much looking forward to this collaboration.”

Before joining BCN, Betzold served as Chief Product Marketing Officer at Bauer Media Digital Publishing, where he was responsible for the company’s international digital strategy, with a focus on monetization, brand positioning, M&A strategy, and managing the marketing and commerce activities in the UK and Germany.

Previously, as Executive Director at Axel Springer Digital News Media and Managing Director Digital at BILD Group, he oversaw the digital business as well as the product and monetization strategy for Axel Springer’s German media brands.

About BCN

BCN is Germany's most diverse marketer and one of its leading cross-media advertising marketers. With more than 300 brands and 500 media offerings, BCN reaches 63 million people across multiple media channels and in all relevant walks of life.

As the joint marketing organisation of Hubert Burda Media, FUNKE Mediengruppe, and Mediengruppe KLAMBT, BCN brings together a unique portfolio of brands and media. Its marketing channels include print, display, mobile, podcasts, social media, and events.