Mark Dekan appointed COO of POLITICO Media Group

Axel Springer has this week announced that Mark Dekan has been appointed to the newly created role of COO of POLITICO Media Group, starting in September. The exec will report directly to POLITICO CEO, Goli Sheikholeslami, and work closely with the team to further drive the Group’s ambitious growth plans.

Dekan is currently CEO of Ringier Axel Springer Polska, a joint venture between Axel Springer and the Swiss media company Ringier. His vast experience in the content and media sector stems, amongst other things, from an 8-year tenure as Senior Vice President of HBO Europe. He will hand over to Aleksander Kutela, currently Vice President of Ringier Axel Springer Polska, upon his departure. 

Jan Bayer, President News Media US and deputy CEO of Axel Springer SE: “I have known Mark Dekan as a strong leader with an impressive ability to build and expand successful media brands. Mark has transformed our print-driven business in Central and Eastern Europe into a steadily growing, digital media company with a leading market position.” 

“In his new role as COO of POLITICO Media Group he will be responsible for making the best out of POLITICO’s immense potential when expanding and strengthening the publication’s offerings. With Aleksander Kutela, we have an ideal and very experienced successor for Mark to further strengthen Ringier Axel Springer Polska’s position on the market and drive investments into digital offerings.”

Goli Sheikholeslami, CEO of POLITICO Media Group, added: “Mark brings vast experience to our team and will lead efforts to bolster POLITICO’s capabilities in our core markets in Europe and North America, as well as in new markets as we enter a new phase of growth under the ownership of Axel Springer. It is an exciting time to be at POLITICO as we take the next leap forward as the global leader in politics and policy focused journalism.”