Karoline Meichsner-Sertl Named CFO at ZDFE

Stephan Adrian, the chief financial officer at ZDF Enterprises (ZDFE), is taking an early retirement at the end of this year, with Karoline Meichsner-Sertl tapped as the company’s new CFO.

Adrian has been ZDFE’s chief financial officer since 2007. Since then, he has been responsible for the company’s departments of finance, legal affairs, HR, corporate and portfolio strategy, material coordination and dubbing, and—most recently—digital innovation. He has worked in collaboration with Fred Burcksen, ZDFE’s president and CEO.

Meichsner-Sertl will take up her new position on January 1, 2019. She previously served as the VP of legal affairs and authorized signatory at ZDFE after first joining the company in 2009.

ZDF Director General Thomas Bellut stated: “With a cool head and a pointed pen, Stephan Adrian successfully managed the commercial aspects of corporate management. He has a large share in the sound economic record of ZDF Enterprises.”

Burcksen added: “Stephan Adrian has assumed his duties with oustanding expertise and prudence, but also with a lot of empathy and the necessary pragmatism. We thank him for his services to the ZDF Enterprises group over more than 11 years and wish him all the best for the future.

“With Karoline Meichsner-Sertl, we are delighted to have found an in-house replacement for this position of great responsibility. With her many years of experience in all legal matters within our sector, she is ideally qualified to both take on the co-management of ZDF Enterprises GmbH and to generate fresh impetus at the same time.”