Born in 1944, Siegfried Luther studied law and business management in Münster, Germany.  In 1974, he joined Bertelsmann AG as director of the Tax department.  Seven years later, he was appointed Deputy Head of the Accounting and Tax Department.  From 1985 on, he headed the Corporate Treasury Department.  In July 1990, the Supervisory Board appointed Siegfried Luther to the Bertelsmann AG Executive Board.  He also took over the responsibilities of Chief Financial Officer and Head of the Bertelsmann AG Corporate Centre. In August 2002, he was appointed Deputy Chairman of the Bertelsmann AG Executive Board. A member of the Board of Directors of RTL Group since July 2000 he was appointed Chairman of the Board in December 2004. Siegfried Luther retired from the Bertelsmann AG Executive Board when his contract expired on 31 December 2005.