Berlin, Germany, July 2026 — Axel Springer has appointed Clara von Hugo as its Global Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO). In her new role, she will lead the company’s global HR agenda, partnering with HR teams worldwide to attract, develop, and retain exceptional talent while strengthening leadership, organizational capabilities, and culture in line with Axel Springer’s core values and long-term strategic vision.
With over 18 years of experience in human resources, executive talent management, leadership development, and organizational transformation, Clara has built a distinguished career helping global organizations cultivate high-performing leaders and future-ready workforces. Her appointment reflects Axel Springer’s continued commitment to investing in people, leadership excellence, and organizational capability as it advances its international growth strategy.
Clara has been with Axel Springer for more than 10 years, progressing through several senior leadership roles. Most recently, she served as Global Head of Executive & HR Advisory, where she led the former Global People & Culture team responsible for advising international executives and overseeing cross-company initiatives including performance management, feedback, compensation, and strategic HR support for the corporate headquarters. Prior to that, she was Global Head of Executives & Talents, leading the strategic development of top executives and global talent programs, designing executive development initiatives, leadership networking formats, performance management frameworks, and talent strategies aligned with the company’s global business objectives.
Earlier, as Head of Leadership & Expert Development, Clara spent nearly six years designing and implementing leadership development frameworks, coaching initiatives, mentoring programs, and expert development strategies that strengthened leadership capabilities across the organization.
Before joining Axel Springer, Clara held senior HR and talent leadership positions at ProSiebenSat.1 Media SE, where she served as Senior Talent Manager and Senior HR Business Partner, leading succession planning, talent management, learning and development, and HR strategy for the company’s incubator businesses and venture portfolio. Earlier in her career, she was Head of Recruiting DACH (Deputy Head of HR) at Groupon GmbH, where she established recruitment strategies across Central Europe while also serving as Deputy HR Head. She began her leadership journey at Hays, where she worked as Key Account Manager – Information Technology Permanent, advising organizations on executive recruitment and talent acquisition.
As Global Chief Human Resources Officer, Clara will lead Axel Springer’s global people strategy, focusing on leadership development, talent management, organizational capability, and culture while ensuring the company continues to attract and develop world-class talent across its international operations.
About Axel Springer
Axel Springer is a transatlantic, family-owned media company committed to shaping the future of independent journalism. Through its portfolio of globally recognized media brands—including BILD, Business Insider, POLITICO, and WELT—the company delivers trusted news, information, and digital media experiences to audiences around the world.
With a strong focus on innovation, digital transformation, and editorial excellence, Axel Springer continues to expand its global media presence while fostering a culture built on entrepreneurial thinking, independent journalism, and long-term value creation.
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