Mahlert has been chairman since 2008, and announced his resignation, effective September 2016, earlier this month. The departure of CEO Matthias Hartmann was announced at the same time. 

Klein-Bölting has been a member of the supervisory board since May 2016 and has been managing partner of brand consultancy and investment company NEXTBRAND since 2013.

“I sincerely appreciate the trust placed in me by the members of the supervisory board," said Klein-Bölting. "Together with my colleagues, I will dedicate all my efforts to GfK. On a basis of trust and in close collaboration with the management board, we will focus on the execution and, respectively, the continued development of the strategy as well as on setting GfK on course into a successful future.

"In addition, the top priority will be on further strengthening the operational business as well as the search for a new CEO.”