Icon: enlarge
After twelve years as program director of ARD, Volker Herres leaves
Photo: Oliver Berg / dpa
After more than twelve years, Volker Herres retires prematurely as program director of the first.
The 63-year-old wants to give up his office on April 30, 2021, announced the ARD community program.
It is not yet known who will succeed him in the post.
Herres said that some time ago he had offered the directors of ARD to give up the office six months before the end of the contract.
"In my life planning, I always had the intention to quit this role at 63. That would be just right at the end of April 2021."
In November 2008, Herres had succeeded Günter Struve as program director of the First German Television - in ARD that is an important position.
The first attracts an audience of millions on TV.
His earlier professional positions in public broadcasting included the North German Broadcasting Corporation (NDR), where Herres was, among other things, television editor-in-chief and program director.
Herres continues to moderate the "press club"
The 63-year-old is also known to many viewers as the moderator of the Sunday series of talks "Presseclub" in Erste and Phoenix, which he moderates in alternation with Jörg Schönenborn, the WDR's program director for information, fiction and entertainment.
According to ARD, Herres will continue to moderate the "press club".
In addition, he should continue to advise ARD beyond the end of April 2021.
The ARD chairman and WDR director Tom Buhrow emphasized that he regretted Herres' decision.
"In almost four decades he has made a name for himself in many positions around public broadcasting, always professional, purposeful and North German prudent."
About Herres' work as program director at Das Erste, Buhrow said: "He helped shape 'his' station as the number one quality program and information broadcaster in Germany and recently pushed ahead with the digital conversion with the ARD media library."
The expansion of the media library is currently a major project for ARD.
Herres further emphasized on his planned departure: "Twelve and a half years in an office that leaves little time for other things, 38 years of public service broadcasting, the majority of which in changing management positions, is enough, I think. I want the right moment between to catch early and late. "
He is sure that the directors will decide on a first-class solution "promptly".
Icon: The mirror
cpa / dpa
