In 2000 Thomas Middelhoff, Bertelsmann's chief executive at the time, nearlysoldall its book clubs to Readers Digest, but the firm'sfoundingfamilydecided they could beturned around.
Aside from Bertelsmann, whose newish boss, ThomasMiddelhoff, is 46, they are run by old and oldish men Rupert Murdoch, Sumner Redstone and Gerald Levin.
ThomasMiddelhoff, its chief executive until 2002, had wanted to take Bertelsmann public, but Reinhard Mohn and his family, the dominant shareholders, have always been unenthusiastic.
