Ms Christina von Wackerbarth, 50, has been appointed President (acting) of Sanoma Uitgevers as of 8 June 2005. This arrangement is estimated to be effective for about one year during which a permanent President will be nominated.
Ms von Wackerbarth will replace Mr Pim de Wit who has been the President of Sanoma Magazines' Dutch business Sanoma Uitgevers.
Christina von Wackerbarth has a long and extensive experience in media and publishing. She was Publishing Director of magazine market leader Mediaxis (current Sanoma Magazines Belgium) in Belgium (1996-1998), COO of VNU's Magazines International (1998-1999), as well as COO and Director General Television of the Belgian Flemish public broadcaster VRT (1999-2003). She is supervisory board member of the Foundation Beeld en Geluid (Netherlands Institute for Sound and Vision), the Dutch public organisation responsible for exploitation of all image and sound archives from e.g. public broadcasters. She is also a member of the supervisory board of Swiss company tamedia. Since May 2003 she is also Independent Director of Sanoma Magazines Belgium.
The Dutch-based Sanoma Uitgevers B.V. is the leading magazines publisher in the Netherlands and part of SanomaWSOY's magazine division, Sanoma Magazines. Its net sales in 2004 totalled EUR 528.8 million, representing some 46% of Sanoma Magazines' total net sales, and its EBITA was EUR 106.4 million. Sanoma Uitgevers employs some 1,700 persons.
Further information: Eija Ailasmaa, President, Sanoma Magazines, +31 622 555 803
SANOMAWSOY CORPORATION
Matti Salmi
Senior Vice President, Finance and Administration
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