Bastei Lubbe AG, a leading independent publishing group in Germany, announced today that Tina Jurgens will join its Executive Board as Chief Marketing and Sales Officer, effective November 1, 2026. The Supervisory Board's decision brings a seasoned media executive with extensive experience in digital distribution and content marketing, underscoring the company's commitment to innovation and growth in the digital publishing space.
Jurgens joins Bastei Lubbe from ZEBRALUTION Group, one of Germany's foremost digital distributors for book and audiobook publishers. Since 2024, she served as Co-CEO, overseeing operations across digital publishing, podcasts, technology, finance, and HR. Her tenure at ZEBRALUTION began in 2018 as Managing Director, where she established the new business division zebra-audio.net (now ZEBRALUTION Podcast). In 2022, she was promoted to Chief Operating Officer. Prior to ZEBRALUTION, Jurgens held senior positions at major German media companies, including Suddeutsche Zeitung, Axel Springer, Bayerischer Rundfunk, and BRmedia. Her career started in 2004 as a product manager at Suddeutsche Zeitung after graduating with a degree in journalism and communication studies. Throughout her career, she has specialized in content marketing, licensing of audio content, and the development of digital business models.
Carsten Dentler, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Bastei Lubbe AG, praised the appointment: “In Tina Jurgens, we are gaining a proven media expert who combines long-standing experience in content marketing with extensive digital expertise and an entrepreneurial drive to shape the future. She is equally familiar with the traditional book and media business and with digital business models, and is therefore ideally equipped to strategically drive forward the marketing of our content and brands. We are convinced that, together with her colleagues on the Executive Board, she will be able to provide important impetus and unlock new potential for Bastei Lubbe.”
Jurgens succeeds Sandra Dittert, who left the publishing house by mutual agreement at the end of her term of office in July 2026, following six successful years. Dentler expressed gratitude on behalf of the Supervisory Board: “The Supervisory Board would like to express its sincere thanks to Sandra Dittert for her dedication and the consistently trusting working relationship. She has played a decisive role in shaping the publishing group’s positive development and has thus made a significant contribution to its profitable growth and portfolio expansion. We wish her all the best for the future.”
The appointment comes at a critical time for Bastei Lubbe, which has been actively expanding its digital footprint. The company, based in Cologne, publishes books, audio books, e-books, and periodical novel booklets under more than 14 imprints. It has established several community-driven business models and is recognized as a pioneer in digital media, producing thousands of audio and eBooks distributed through all digital channels. In the 2025/2026 financial year, the group generated annual revenues of over EUR 118 million. Listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange since 2013, Bastei Lubbe continues to adapt to changing consumer habits, with digital sales playing an increasingly important role. Jurgens's expertise in audio content and digital business models is expected to accelerate this transition, potentially opening new revenue streams and strengthening the company's market position.
Industry observers note that Jurgens's background at ZEBRALUTION, a company that has thrived in the digital audiobook and podcast market, aligns well with Bastei Lubbe's strategic goals. Her appointment signals a clear intent to leverage digital channels more aggressively, particularly in the growing audiobook and podcast segments. As the publishing industry faces ongoing disruption, having a leader with proven success in digital transformation will be crucial for Bastei Lubbe to remain competitive and innovative. The move also highlights the importance of executive leadership in steering traditional media companies through digital transitions, a challenge many publishers are grappling with globally.
