Yank on Bertlesmann board

Sarnoff named exec VP of Random House

By CHRISTIAN KOEHL

COLOGNE -- German media giant Bertelsmann has elected an American to a top position on its powerful representative committee for the first time.

Richard Sarnoff, executive VP of Random House, will also become a member of the company's supervisory board.

"This is a signal for Bertelsmann's internationalization, and we will pursue this course in all our bodies," said CEO Thomas Middelhoff.

The committee was established by Reinhard Mohn in 1974 to support open dialogue between executive board and managers. It has 12 members and has been headed by Uwe Swientek for the past nine years.