RTL declines to discharge Habets

International broadcaster RTL Group’s annual general meeting of shareholders has declined to discharge CEO Bert Habets, despite the company announcing his unexpected decision to resign earlier this month.

Bert Habets

“The AGM resolved to give full and final discharge to all the directors in respect of their management in the course of 2018, with the exception of Bert Habets. The decision by the AGM not to grant discharge to Bert Habets is based on certain matters under review. These matters are not expected, based on current information, to have a significant financial impact on the Group,” the company said in a statement.

Earlier this month, RTL announced that Habets was to leave the group for personal reasons, without giving details. Habets did not comment on his departure at the time.

RTL has named Thomas Rabe, the current CEO of its shareholder Bertelsmann, to succeed Habets, while retaining his existing position.

Rabe was previously chairman of RTL, and the company has named Martin Taylor to replace him in that role, while James Singh has been named as vice-chairman.

At the time of the announcement, Rabe thanked Habets for his 20 years in various roles with the broadcaster and said that RTL would continue to focus on the priorities set under his watch.