WDR Director-General Buhrow announces retirement for the end of 2024
According to WDR, Buhrow is no longer available for a possible third term of office by his own decision and will hand over his post on December 31, 2024 "to enable a smooth transition until the start of the new contribution period from 2025". The Broadcasting Council, which is responsible for making the appointment, will now initiate a corresponding procedure.
"WDR is ideally positioned for the future - the reforms are in full swing," explained Buhrow on Tuesday. WDR Broadcasting Council Chairman Rolf Zurbrüggen explained that WDR and public broadcasting as a whole "owe a great deal to Buhrow". He had "reformed WDR from the ground up and provided decisive impetus for major innovations at ARD". His announcement of his retirement, which was made well in advance, showed "a great sense of responsibility and care for his station", he added.
Born in Troisdorf, North Rhine-Westphalia, Buhrow had completed his journalistic training at WDR. Since then, he has worked continuously in various positions for the broadcaster. He became known nationwide in 1994 as a long-standing ARD correspondent in Washington and Paris, and between 2006 and 2013 he presented the main evening news program "Tagesthemen".
During his time as WDR director-general and ARD chairman, Buhrow was repeatedly confronted with demands for reforms in public broadcasting. He caused a major stir in November last year during his time as ARD chairman with a speech in which he spoke out in favor of a relentless debate about changes to the existing system.
"We have to break out of the current system," said Buhrow in the speech, which he gave in Hamburg and which he expressly stated he was giving as a private citizen and not in an official capacity. Among other things, he brought a merger of the two public broadcasters ARD and ZDF into the discussion.
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- The Broadcasting Council will initiate a procedure to find a successor for WDR Director-General Tom Buhrow, who announced his retirement at the end of 2024 in Cologne.
- Buhrow's decision to retire allows for a smooth transition, ensuring that the future of WDR aligns with the ongoing reforms, set to commence in 2025.
- Instead of pursuing a third term, Buhrow decided to cancel his plans, believing it was his responsibility to facilitate a seamless handover to the incoming WDR intendant.
- WDR chairman Rolf Zurbrüggen praised Buhrow for his significant contributions to WDR and public broadcasting, citing his influential role in spearheading key innovations at ARD and shaping its structure.
- Having spent his entire career in journalism within WDR, starting from his training and leading up to his prominent roles as ARD correspondent and "Tagesthemen" presenter, Buhrow's expertise was instrumental in the development of Cologne's media landscape.
- In 1994, Buhrow gained national recognition as a dedicated ARD correspondent in both Washington and Paris, demonstrating his versatility as a journalist and a powerful voice within the industry.
Source: www.stern.de
