Cologne, Germany – Bastei Lübbe AG, one of Germany’s largest independent trade publishers, is actively recruiting an Online Marketing and Sales Manager, signaling continued investment in digital channels despite a shifting publishing landscape. The company, founded in 1953, has grown to encompass a broad range of genres including suspense, science fiction, and historical fiction, alongside children’s books and audiobooks.
Bastei Lübbe’s history began with Gustav H. Lübbe taking over the insolvent Cologne-based Bastei-Verlag in 1953. The company evolved through several name changes, becoming Verlagsgruppe Lübbe in 2000 and finally Bastei Lübbe in 2010, according to company records and Wikipedia. In 2010, it was the largest independent book publisher in Germany, and claimed to be among the top three audiobook publishers.
The publisher has demonstrated an adaptability to changing market conditions, notably with its German-language release of Dan Brown’s The Da Vinci Code. More recently, Bastei Lübbe has expanded into ebook publishing in English, Spanish, and Chinese, indicating a global outlook. The company went public on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange in October 2013 and, in May 2014, acquired a 51% stake in Daedalic Entertainment, a Hamburg-based video game developer and publisher.
Currently, Bastei Lübbe publishes a diverse catalog, including the “Im kleinen Nordsee-Hafen” series, with a fresh season of six novels scheduled for release on April 4, 2026. The company also promotes the “Love & Millions” series, a new line of romance novels. Alongside contemporary fiction, Bastei Lübbe maintains a strong presence in the Romanhefte (serialized fiction) market, a traditional format in Germany.
The search for an Online Marketing and Sales Manager underscores Bastei Lübbe’s commitment to direct-to-consumer sales and digital engagement. The role will focus on expanding the company’s online presence and driving revenue through digital channels. The company has not publicly commented on specific sales targets or the rationale behind the new hire.
