German media company ProSiebenSat.1 has extended the contract of Group Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Martin Mildner until May 2029.
The Supervisory Board announced on 1 September that Mildner, 55, will remain in his role for another three years. Since joining in 2023, he has been credited with improving ProSiebenSat.1’s financial resilience through efficiency measures, debt reduction and targeted divestments, including the sale of price comparison portal Verivox earlier this year.
“His deep expertise in both financial management and M&A provides a solid foundation for ProSiebenSat.1’s strategic transformation,” said Supervisory Board chairwoman Maria Kyriacou. Chief executive Bert Habets added that Mildner had been “crucial in successfully navigating the company through profound structural change in the media industry from day one.”
Mildner himself stressed the importance of continuity during what he described as a “crucial phase” for the group. “I will pay particular attention to intensive cooperation with MFE to realise synergies together and make optimal use of our strategic partnership,” he said.
The contract extension comes at a crucial moment for ProSiebenSat.1. Czech investment group PPF last week sold its entire stake in the German broadcaster, paving the way for Italian media group MFE-MediaForEurope to secure a majority holding. MFE, already ProSiebenSat.1’s largest shareholder, has long argued for the creation of a stronger pan-European media group to compete with US streaming giants.
By ensuring leadership continuity in its finance department, ProSiebenSat.1 is signalling to investors and regulators that it is committed to stability as it prepares to integrate more closely with MFE. Analysts note that a steady financial hand will be critical as the company seeks to unlock synergies with its Italian shareholder and continue its focus towards entertainment and digital platforms.
Before joining ProSiebenSat.1, Mildner served as CFO of United Internet, where he oversaw the IPO of web hosting subsidiary IONOS, and spent over a decade at the Otto Group. A lawyer and state-certified tax advisor by training, he began his career at KPMG and law firm Heuking Kühn Lüer Wojtek.
