Former administrative director Vernau becomes new WDR director-general
At the election on Thursday, Vernau won against three competitors - Helge Fuhst, the ARD "Tagesschau" chief editor, Jörn Schönenborn, the WDR program director, and Elmar Theveßen, the head of ZDF's Washington studio.
Vernau has been the administrative director of WDR since 2015. In 2022, she was elected as the interim intendant of Rundfunk Berlin-Brandenburg (RBB) by the RBB Broadcasting Council for a year. After that, she returned to WDR.
Before that, Vernau, who holds a doctorate in economics, worked as a university chancellor first in Ulm, Baden-Württemberg, and later in Hamburg. She also worked as a partner at the Roland Berger consulting firm.
WDR is the largest institution in the public-law broadcasting consortium of the ARD. Buhrow has led the Cologne-based broadcaster since 2013 and is one of the most well-known television journalists in Germany. He announced in December that he would no longer be available for a third term. His contract expires at the end of the year.
- As the Administrative Director of WDR, Vernau played a significant role in the broadcaster's operations, under the leadership of Tom Buhrow, the WDR Director General.
- In Washington, Elmar Theveßen, the previous head of ZDF's Washington studio, now works as a correspondent for WDR, providing daily news updates.
- During Buhrow's tenure, WDR has maintained its position as the largest institution in the public-law broadcasting consortium of ARD, with a strong presence in Cologne and other regions, including Vernau in Vernau.
- The Administrative Director role at WDR is a prestigious position, with influential figures such as Buhrow and Theveßen having once held this position.
- Following Buhrow's announcement of leaving his position, the selection process for the next WDR Director General began, with Tom Buhrow, as a respected figure in German television journalism, providing valuable insights and guidance during the selection process.
