Stiftung Warentest Appoints New Communications Chief as Editorial Teams Merge
Stiftung Warentest has appointed a new head for its communications department. Björn Köllen-Steiner took over the role in September 2025, following the departure of Matthias Thieme. He reports directly to Julia Roberts, the board member of the foundation.
Köllen-Steiner is responsible for both internal and external communication at the foundation. His appointment comes as the Foundation for Consumer Protection merges its two editorial teams, Stiftung Warentest and Stiftung Warentest Finanzen, under a single leadership. Isabella Eigner, previously the editor-in-chief of test.de, now leads both teams.
This merger follows the foundation's rebranding and strategic focus on the umbrella brand. Julia Roberts, the Chairperson, explains that the restructuring supports the foundation's focus on digital innovations and strengthens print publications. Meanwhile, Matthias Thieme, the former editor-in-chief of Stiftung Warentest Finanzen, has joined Smartbroker as Head of Communication and Head of Content.
Björn Köllen-Steiner is now at the helm of the communications department at Stiftung Warentest, leading both internal and external communication efforts. The merger of the editorial teams under Isabella Eigner's leadership is part of the foundation's strategic focus on digital innovations and strengthening print publications, as explained by Julia Roberts.
