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Bild editor-in-chief Julian Reichelt
Photo: CLEMENS BILAN / EPA
Julian Reichelt, editor-in-chief of the "Bild" newspaper, is returning to the top of the tabloid after a temporary leave of absence due to compliance proceedings.
This was announced by the media group Axel Springer.
The decision is based on an investigation report of the compliance procedure, which dealt with various allegations regarding the behavior of Julian Reichelt.
Around half a dozen employees reported incidents from previous years to the media company, and a team led by Chief Compliance Officer Florian von Götz took care of the clarification of the facts.
The company's internal compliance management investigated and evaluated various indications of possible misconduct on behalf of the Management Board with the support of the Freshfields law firm over a period of more than four weeks.
On the basis of the available findings, the Management Board of Axel Springer SE has decided that Julian Reichelt will continue his work and that the release that took place on March 12, 2021 will be canceled with immediate effect.
Mixture of relationships allowed
At the same time, the editorial management is reorganized as a dual leadership.
Alexandra Würzbach, 52, currently editor-in-chief of "Bild am Sonntag" and a member of the editorial team of the Bild Group, will be the chairwoman of the "Bild" editorial offices with equal rights.
Your focus will be the "Bild am Sonntag" and the overarching personnel and editorial management.
Alexandra Würzbach and Julian Reichelt are jointly responsible for the content orientation of all products of the »Bild« group.
At the core of the investigation were the allegations of abuse of power in connection with consensual relationships with female employees and drug use in the workplace.
Julian Reichelt has admitted the mixing of professional and private relationships, but denied the above allegations and affirmed this.
More on this soon at Spiegel.de
rai / dpa