AMBot | 12/13/2002 | Reading Time: 4 Min.
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Egmont Consolidates Book Activities
Comic albums and manga will henceforth be published by Egmont vgs verlagsgesellschaft in Cologne
Berlin, December 13, 2002
To further increase efficiency and improve synergies in the book business of the German Egmont Holding, the following measures will be implemented:
Effective January 1, 2003, the previously independent business units Alben & Teenpublikationen (ATP) and Egmont Manga and Anime (EMA) will be merged back into a single division. The division will be led by Georg F.W. Tempel (43), previously Publishing Director of Egmont Manga & Anime, who will join the management team of Dr. Bernward Malaka (40) and Michael Schweins (49) at Egmont vgs verlagsgesellschaft as an authorized signatory.
The new comics division will merge with Egmont vgs in Cologne and will also physically relocate to Cologne. Egmont vgs will take over all book-related functions such as production, rights management, and administration. The move will be completed by March/April 2003.
The book distribution division at Egmont Ehapa in Berlin will be discontinued, with distribution tasks being handled by the sales team of Egmont vgs verlagsgesellschaft. Marketing and distribution of press wholesale editions from ATP and EMA, such as Asterix, Lucky Luke, or manga/anime magazines, will remain in Berlin. The established brand names Ehapa, Ehapa Comic Collection, Feest Comics, and Egmont Manga & Anime will remain unchanged.
Michael Walz (47), previously Publishing Director of Alben & Teen-Publikationen, will, upon the implementation of the new structure, primarily oversee key licensing collaborations such as Asterix for the German Egmont Holding in Berlin, as well as handle all issues arising from the new copyright law. In this role, he will report directly to Frank Knau, Managing Director of Egmont Holding GmbH.
Ute Plassmann (33), Sales Director of ATP and EMA, will actively support the transition to Cologne. After the completion of the sales handover to Egmont vgs verlagsgesellschaft, she will leave the company by mutual agreement to pursue new opportunities.
Christina Walz (41), Head of Marketing and PR at ATP, will not be available for a responsible marketing position within the new structure of the comic book publishers and will leave the company by mutual agreement.
A generous social plan has been agreed upon for seven other affected employees.
Egmont Ehapa Verlag and Egmont vgs verlagsgesellschaft expect this merger to bring significant economic benefits for both publishers, particularly for their shared book business. A well-established sales team, specialized internal processes for the book business, and a developed book culture provide an optimal environment for healthy growth in Egmont’s comics division.
The "vgs verlagsgesellschaft" was founded in 1970 as "Verlagsgesellschaft Schulfernsehen" (Educational Television Publishing Company). Today, its diverse publishing program reflects the multifaceted nature of the entire television landscape, and the publisher is the market leader for TV-related books in the German-speaking world.
Egmont Ehapa Verlag, founded in 1951, began expanding its comic book activities in 1989. In a very short time, Ehapa gained significant market share in bookstores with its Ehapa Comic Collection, Feest Comics, and Egmont Manga & Anime programs.
With its comic, children’s, and preschool magazines, Egmont Ehapa is today the undisputed market leader in children’s entertainment in the magazine trade.
Egmont Holding GmbH and Egmont Ehapa Verlag GmbH will remain at their Berlin location.
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Egmont Consolidates Book Activities
Comic albums and manga will henceforth be published by Egmont vgs verlagsgesellschaft in Cologne
Berlin, December 13, 2002
To further increase efficiency and improve synergies in the book business of the German Egmont Holding, the following measures will be implemented:
Effective January 1, 2003, the previously independent business units Alben & Teenpublikationen (ATP) and Egmont Manga and Anime (EMA) will be merged back into a single division. The division will be led by Georg F.W. Tempel (43), previously Publishing Director of Egmont Manga & Anime, who will join the management team of Dr. Bernward Malaka (40) and Michael Schweins (49) at Egmont vgs verlagsgesellschaft as an authorized signatory.
The new comics division will merge with Egmont vgs in Cologne and will also physically relocate to Cologne. Egmont vgs will take over all book-related functions such as production, rights management, and administration. The move will be completed by March/April 2003.
The book distribution division at Egmont Ehapa in Berlin will be discontinued, with distribution tasks being handled by the sales team of Egmont vgs verlagsgesellschaft. Marketing and distribution of press wholesale editions from ATP and EMA, such as Asterix, Lucky Luke, or manga/anime magazines, will remain in Berlin. The established brand names Ehapa, Ehapa Comic Collection, Feest Comics, and Egmont Manga & Anime will remain unchanged.
Michael Walz (47), previously Publishing Director of Alben & Teen-Publikationen, will, upon the implementation of the new structure, primarily oversee key licensing collaborations such as Asterix for the German Egmont Holding in Berlin, as well as handle all issues arising from the new copyright law. In this role, he will report directly to Frank Knau, Managing Director of Egmont Holding GmbH.
Ute Plassmann (33), Sales Director of ATP and EMA, will actively support the transition to Cologne. After the completion of the sales handover to Egmont vgs verlagsgesellschaft, she will leave the company by mutual agreement to pursue new opportunities.
Christina Walz (41), Head of Marketing and PR at ATP, will not be available for a responsible marketing position within the new structure of the comic book publishers and will leave the company by mutual agreement.
A generous social plan has been agreed upon for seven other affected employees.
Egmont Ehapa Verlag and Egmont vgs verlagsgesellschaft expect this merger to bring significant economic benefits for both publishers, particularly for their shared book business. A well-established sales team, specialized internal processes for the book business, and a developed book culture provide an optimal environment for healthy growth in Egmont’s comics division.
The "vgs verlagsgesellschaft" was founded in 1970 as "Verlagsgesellschaft Schulfernsehen" (Educational Television Publishing Company). Today, its diverse publishing program reflects the multifaceted nature of the entire television landscape, and the publisher is the market leader for TV-related books in the German-speaking world.
Egmont Ehapa Verlag, founded in 1951, began expanding its comic book activities in 1989. In a very short time, Ehapa gained significant market share in bookstores with its Ehapa Comic Collection, Feest Comics, and Egmont Manga & Anime programs.
With its comic, children’s, and preschool magazines, Egmont Ehapa is today the undisputed market leader in children’s entertainment in the magazine trade.
Egmont Holding GmbH and Egmont Ehapa Verlag GmbH will remain at their Berlin location.
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This article was originally published in German. It was translated with technical support and editorially reviewed before publication.
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