Videl Bar-Kar takes on new “Global Head of Audio” role at Bookwire

Frankfurt a. M., 29 November 2019 – Frankfurt-based Bookwire GmbH is bundling its international activities in the digital audio business sector. As “Global Head of Audio” Videl Bar-Kar, who has already been working for the business since 2018, will now be responsible for the audio business segment and its strategic expansion.

In his new role, Videl-Bar Kar reports directly to Jens Klingelhöfer and John Ruhrmann, Bookwire CEO and Managing Director respectively. Working together with the audio experts at the Frankfurt headquarters and at Bookwire’s regional offices in Barcelona, Mexico City and São Paulo, he will strategically further develop the company’s international audio business. The internationally renowned audio expert has already worked as New Business Director at Bookwire since 2018. His previous roles have included audio publisher at Penguin Random House, as well as publishing and author consultant.

International expansion of the market position & positioning in new markets

In addition to working in the New Business area, Bar-Kars’s duties also include expansion of Bookwire’s international pioneering role in all areas of digital audio publishing with all windows – from production, through distribution of audiobooks and podcasts in all globally relevant shops and streaming platforms, to marketing, as well as detailed audience analytics.

“Bookwire has already achieved a strong international position in recent years, and developed an innovative portfolio for its ever-increasing audio market with flexible end-to-end solutions for publishers of various sizes and specializations. We want to keep expanding what we can offer and become established in more countries and regions”, explains Videl Bar-Kar.

International roll-out of Bookwire WAY

As the first step on this journey, the audiobook production solution “We Audiobook You – WAY” – 2019 winner of the “Digital Publishing Award” – will be rolled out internationally this year under the direction of the new Global Head of Audio.

“In many countries, both in Europe and in many other parts of the world, the audio boom has only just begun. Publishers across the world often still don’t have access to efficient and practicable solutions for producing and distributing their titles as digital audiobooks. This is precisely where Bookwire WAY comes in – obviously along with Bookwire OS, our operating system for digital publishing, which has a variety of features related to audiobook production, distribution, marketing and analytics,” explains John Ruhrmann, Managing Director of Bookwire GmbH, who has built up the business’ audio strategy in recent years.

In his new role, Videl Bar-Kar will tell interested publishers how they can make the growing audio market work for them with Bookwire, under the motto “How to stop selling audio rights and start publishing in audio”, at a masterclass at “FutureBook” on 25 November in London.