Allendale, NJ—Silke Bernhardt, 44, will assume the position of global director for Corporate Communications at Leica Camera AG in Wetzlar, effective April 1, 2015. In this function, she will be responsible for global corporate communications, media relations and in-house communications. She will report to Oliver Kaltner, chairman of the executive board of Leica Camera AG.
Silke Bernhardt has had a long career in the media and public relations segment, gathering her professional experience in both agency and industry contexts. Most recently, as head of public relations, she was responsible for corporate and product PR for the consumer electronics division of Sony Electronics in Berlin. Previously, the graduate in political sciences and German philology spent six years in corporate and program PR at the TV channel ProSieben in Munich and was employed for several years by the international PR agency Burson Marsteller in Hamburg.
“Silke Bernhardt and I share not only a common career in the imaging segment, but also, and above all, our enthusiasm for communications, brand management and holistic partner management,” said Oliver Kaltner. “Our success in winning her for Leica Camera AG represents a big step forward for our company’s communications planning. Her professional capabilities and agility and her commitment and spirit for team playing are appreciated on all sides. I am very much looking forward to working with her both here in our headquarters in Wetzlar and in our global network of regional subsidiaries.”
“There are only very few companies in the world that possess such a fascinating history and such a unique brand as Leica,” added Bernhardt. “The unmistakable cameras in exceptional quality not only revolutionized the world of photography but also originated and were instrumental in shaping the face of socially critical reportage photography. It is a great pleasure for me to have the opportunity to assist in the creation of future milestones and the numerous facets of communications for this historical and legendary brand.” us.leica-camera.com
