CR Management in a Decentralized Company

As an international media, services, and education company, Bertelsmann operates in around 50 countries worldwide. Rooted in a decentralized company structure that has evolved at Bertelsmann over the decades, Bertelsmann’s local management teams know their businesses and their ecological and social environment best. Therefore, specific CR projects and measures are realized in a decentralized manner. For this purpose, Bertelsmann's corporate divisions and companies have implemented their own structures and processes, in line with their local requirements.

Decentralized action does not mean forgoing a planned and systematic approach. The Bertelsmann CR Council regularly brings together executives from the corporate divisions under the leadership of the Group’s Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO). Together, they drive the strategic development of CR at Bertelsmann and add an operational perspective to the business. At the Group level, the Corporate Responsibility department, a staff function of the CHRO, coordinates and supports the work of the CR Council in close cooperation with other Group functions. In addition, regular exchange on relevant CR topics takes place in international, cross-divisional working groups and networks.