Barbara Massing appointed next DW Director General
Prelate Dr. Karl Jüsten, Chair of the DW Broadcasting Council and of the selection committee, stated: "I am thrilled to appoint Barbara Massing as the next Director General. She brings not only top-tier leadership and journalistic expertise, but also the strategic foresight needed to position Deutsche Welle for long-term success in a challenging global media environment. She is highly respected among ARD broadcasters and has an excellent professional network. As Managing Director Business Administration, she played a key role in expanding DW's programming and streamlining the organization to achieve greater efficiency and modernization. At a time when press freedom and free speech face growing threats worldwide, she is exactly the leader Deutsche Welle needs to strengthen its role as a trusted, independent global voice for democracy and freedom."
"I would like to thank the Broadcasting Council for their trust and for the opportunity to work together with everyone at DW to shape our future," said Barbara Massing. "Fact-based, reliable journalism is our most valuable asset and it is more important now, in times of AI-manipulated content and disinformation, than it has ever been. Regionalization, digital innovation and a vibrant, inclusive organizational culture will be key to guiding us on the path we'll take together."
Dr. Achim Dercks, Deputy Chair of the Administrative Board, is looking forward to working with the new Director General: "Barbara Massing played a key role as Managing Director Business Administration in stabilizing DW financially and driving its successful development and restructuring in recent years. Together with Mrs. Massing, the Administrative Board will continue working to ensure DW is well-positioned and properly supported in these geopolitically challenging times. DW must remain a relevant voice on the world stage – delivering free and independent information to people everywhere."
Massing's appointment follows the unanimous decision by the selection committee, who chose her from among a number of highly qualified candidates. The seven-member committee, appointed by the Broadcasting Council, conducted an open recruitment process, thoroughly reviewed all applications, and held intensive interviews over several weeks. Barbara Massing was the sole candidate unanimously put forward to the Broadcasting Council. The committee consisted of Dr. Karl Jüsten, Sibylle Spoo (Deputy Chair of the Broadcasting Council), Prof. Christian Höppner, Vera Szackamer, Marco Wanderwitz, Ulrike Hiller, and Carola Richter. Ulrich Silberbach, Chair of the Administrative Board, served in an advisory capacity.
Barbara Massing will succeed Peter Limbourg, who decided to step down after 12 years and two terms as Director General. She is the first woman to lead Germany's international broadcaster.
Massing has held the position of Managing Director for Business Administration and as such has been part of the DW Management Team since 2014. She joined Deutsche Welle in 2006, initially working as an advisor in Distribution before moving into a senior leadership role, where she spent six years establishing the organization's Corporate Strategy team. Before joining DW, she worked as a producer for ARD documentaries and as an advisor at Franco-German broadcaster Arte.
She also represented DW for two years as a member of the European Commission's "Science and Society" international advisory group. A fully qualified lawyer, Massing is deputy chair of the supervisory board of the International Beethovenfest Bonn, a member of the supervisory board of the University Hospital Bonn, a trustee of TH Köln, and a managing partner representative at the Bonn Institute. Her areas of focus include digital transformation, organizational culture, and sustainability. Barbara Massing lives in Cologne and has two children.
The Director General of DW is responsible for steering and coordinating the organization's strategic and operational activities in close collaboration with its governing bodies. According to the DW Act, the Director General is elected by the Broadcasting Council for a term of six years by secret ballot. Re-election is permitted, and a two-thirds majority is required for appointment.
You can download photos of the newly appointed Director General here.
