Björn Bauer Named CFO of Combined BMG and Concord

Björn Bauer has been named chief financial officer of the combined BMG and Concord, the companies said Tuesday, May 12. He will be based in Nashville and report to Bob Valentine, who has been designated chief executive officer of the new entity.

Until the transaction closes, BMG and Concord will keep their current CFOs in place. Mathis Wolter will remain in the role at BMG and support the integration with Concord before moving into a new position within Bertelsmann. Concord CFO Kent Hoskins will also stay on until closing, then is expected to take another senior leadership role at the combined company.

Bauer joins from RTL Group, the entertainment company majority-owned by BMG parent Bertelsmann. He has been RTL’s CFO since 2019, serving as an executive director and a member of the executive committee. According to the company, he has been part of RTL’s restructuring efforts, including sharpening the group’s focus on its largest business units, expanding Fremantle, and building a profitable streaming business. He also took part in RTL’s acquisition of Sky Deutschland (GSA) and the sale of RTL Netherlands.

Before RTL, Bauer held senior roles at Bertelsmann from 2007 onward, including executive vice president of corporate controlling and strategy and CFO of Relias, the company’s U.S.-based online learning provider.

“Björn brings a wealth of experience and a proven track record of delivering strong results through operational excellence and disciplined financial management,” Thomas Coesfeld, the designated chairman of the combined BMG and Concord, said in a statement. “We are delighted that he is expected to join the combined company following completion of the transaction and look forward to the impact he will have as we continue to strengthen and grow the business. At the same time, I would like to thank Mathis for playing an instrumental role in shaping BMG’s strategic transformation, and for being a trusted partner to me and the executive team over the past three years.”

Valentine said Bauer’s financial background will be important as the company moves ahead after closing. “We are pleased that Björn is expected to join the combined company as CFO. His deep financial expertise will be invaluable as the company continues to focus on sustainable growth and long-term value creation after the transaction closes,” he said.

Bauer said the combination of BMG and Concord puts the company in position to take advantage of changes in the global music business. “As the global music industry evolves, the combination of BMG and Concord will be uniquely positioned to capture new opportunities through its talent focus, entrepreneurial spirit and global scale, supported by continued investments in catalogs and talent,” he said. “I am excited to join the combined company upon closing of the transaction, a pivotal moment in its growth journey. I look forward to partnering with the teams to drive the combined company’s next phase of growth and support its long-term strategic ambitions.”