The Supervisory Board of Bastei Lübbe AG, a leading independent publishing group in Germany listed on the Prime Standard of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange, has appointed Tina Jurgens as its new Chief Marketing and Sales Officer. She will assume her role on November 1, 2026, succeeding Sandra Dittert, who left the company by mutual agreement in July 2026 after six successful years.
Jurgens joins from ZEBRALUTION Group, one of Germany’s foremost digital distributors for book and audiobook publishers, where she has served as Co-CEO since 2024. In that capacity, she oversaw operations across digital publishing and podcasts, as well as technology, finance, and human resources. Her tenure at ZEBRALUTION began in 2018 as Managing Director, when she launched the new business division zebra-audio.net, now ZEBRALUTION Podcast, and later became Chief Operating Officer in 2022.
Her career prior to ZEBRALUTION includes roles at major German media companies. After earning a degree in journalism and communication studies, she started as a product manager at Süddeutsche Zeitung in 2004. She subsequently held senior positions at Axel Springer, Bayerischer Rundfunk, and BRmedia, where she specialized in marketing and licensing of audio content and the development of digital business models.
Carsten Dentler, Chairman of the Supervisory Board, said: “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 Lübbe.”
Dentler also expressed gratitude to Dittert: “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.”
This appointment comes at a critical time for the publishing industry, which is undergoing rapid digitization. Bastei Lübbe, with annual revenues exceeding €118 million (2025/2026 financial year), has positioned itself as an innovation driver, owning more than 14 imprints that publish books, audiobooks, e-books, and periodical novel booklets. The company has successfully established community-driven business models and is a pioneer in digital media, distributing thousands of audio and e-books through all digital channels.
Jurgens’ background in digital distribution and audio content is expected to accelerate Bastei Lübbe’s digital transformation. Her experience in building ZEBRALUTION’s podcast business and her track record at major broadcasters and publishers make her a strategic fit to enhance the company’s marketing and sales efforts. The move signals the company’s commitment to strengthening its digital footprint and capitalizing on the growing demand for audiobooks and podcasts.
For readers and the broader media industry, Jurgens’ appointment underscores the importance of digital leadership in traditional publishing houses. As consumer habits shift toward digital formats, companies that successfully integrate digital expertise into their executive teams are better positioned to thrive. Bastei Lübbe’s choice reflects a broader trend where publishers seek leaders who can bridge the gap between conventional publishing and digital innovation.
The company, based in Cologne, has been listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange since 2013 (WKN A1X3YY, ISIN DE000A1X3YY0). Further information is available at Bastei Lübbe’s website.
