Stockholm, Sweden – In addition to his duties as chairman of the U.S.-based Bonnier Corporation, Jonas Bonnier has now been named to lead the entire Bonnier company worldwide. The board of directors appointed him Bonnier's new CEO, effective January 1.

The Bonnier Group, (www.bonnier.com), a 200-year-old family-owned media group based in Sweden, has business operations in 25 countries, including magazine divisions in Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland and Spain. It is also the parent company of Bonnier Corp., one of the largest U.S. consumer-publishing groups, with more than 40 special-interest magazines as well as related multimedia projects and events.

"During the past few years, Jonas Bonnier has proven himself to be the right man for the job. He has deep knowledge of our industry, international experience and knows the group inside out," says Carl-Johan Bonnier, chairman of the board.

Jonas will remain chairman of the board for Bonnier Corp. His duties will not change.

Jonas grew up in Stockholm, Sweden. After completing his studies at Uppsala University, he worked as a language teacher at a junior high school while he wrote his debut novel. He made his debut as an author in 1988 (and has since published seven novels), and he became the editor of Bonnier's book club the following year.

For the next three years he worked in the family business's book operations, and after that he returned to work as a writer, writing novels, film scripts and television scripts during the mid-1990s, while at the same time working as a columnist for several Swedish newspapers.

After launching the Internet company Bonnier Online in 1995, Jonas Bonnier started working at the Bonnier Magazine Group in 1996. For the past three years, Bonnier has worked as executive vice president of Bonnier, a role that also involves work on newspapers, film, television, books and Internet media, and he has simultaneously continued his assignment as president and chairman of the Magazine Group.

Bengt Braun, who will now leave the CEO position after 10 years, has been appointed vice chairman of Bonnier. He will also serve on additional boards of directors within the group. "Under Bengt Braun's leadership, the Bonnier Group has substantially boosted its sales, expanded internationally, strengthened its finances and delivered record-breaking results. We are pleased that Bengt wishes to continue in the group," says Carl-Johan Bonnier.

Bonnier Corporation (www.bonniercorp.com) is the leading media company serving passionate, highly engaged audiences. It was formed earlier this year by Bonnier, combining its U.S. magazine partner World Publications with the purchase of Time Inc.'s Parenting Group and Time4 Media titles.