Hesse leaves Sony for Bertie

SIDDHARTHA, THE JOURNEY CONTINUES: It’s sushi one day, sauerbraten the next for Thomas Hesse, the top digital exec at Sony Music, who is going home to the fatherland. Bertelsmann has confirmed that Hesse will take charge of the German company’s corporate development and new business as well as becoming a member of the executive board. “His tasks will be to advance the group's business development, build new businesses for Bertelsmann and facilitate the digital transformation of the core businesses," said Bertie said in a statement this morning. "In this role he will be responsible for the growth platforms Bertelsmann Digital Media Investments and Bertelsmann Asia Investments, for the Education business and for the holding in the BMG music rights company." Hesse will start his new gig on Feb. 1, a month after CFO Thomas Rabe officially becomes Chairman of the executive board. Said Rabe: "Thomas Hesse knows Bertelsmann very well from his earlier work and is well acquainted with the international media world. He brings to his new position a high level of expertise and a profound understanding of the digital challenges a global media company faces." (11/30a)