Thomas Coesfeld
BMG
CEO
Thomas Coesfeld is Chief Executive Officer of BMG and will become Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Bertelsmann effective January 1, 2027. Coesfeld has also been appointed to assume the role of chairman of the combined BMG and Concord company, effective upon closing of the transaction. He has served as CEO of BMG since 2023 and has been a member of the Bertelsmann Executive Board since 2024.
Since assuming leadership of BMG, the company has made significant strategic strides while repositioning the business for the streaming era. Under Coesfeld’s leadership, digital revenue has grown to more than 70% of total revenue, driven by newly established direct relationships with major streaming platforms and a focused operating model centered on core publishing and recordings activities, supported by innovative AI-enabled workflows and tools.
This evolution has been guided by the execution of the BMG Next strategy since 2023, which has sharpened the company’s focus on music rights management, accelerated its transition to a digital-first operating model, and delivered scalability to enable long-term growth. The new operating model delivers global success for BMG’s artists and songwriters, including major award recognition and significant streaming milestones – all rooted in strategic partnerships, expanded data capabilities, and a focus on new monetization models.
He has also led a disciplined and ambitious investment strategy. Since 2021, BMG has deployed more than $1.5 billion in music rights acquisitions through Bertelsmann’s Boost program, reinforcing the company’s long-term growth and value creation.
Coesfeld began his career as a management consultant at McKinsey in 2014. He holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree in business administration from WHU – Otto Beisheim School of Management, as well as an MBA from Emory University in Atlanta.
He joined Bertelsmann in 2018 as Chief Strategy Officer of Mohn Media, later assuming the same role at Bertelsmann Printing Group, where he also became a member of the management board. He moved to BMG in 2020, serving as Chief Financial Officer from 2021 before being appointed CEO.