Departures of note

Axel Ganz was a German-born journalist and media executive who became one of the most influential figures in French magazine publishing. Born on July 25, 1937, in Auggen, Germany, he began his career as a journalist at Badische Zeitung before working as a correspondent in Paris for the German weekly Bunte.

In 1978, Ganz was tasked by the German publisher Gruner + Jahr to establish a French operation. He founded Prisma Presse (later Prisma Media) and launched the French edition of Geo magazine in 1979. Over the following decades, he created or acquired numerous successful titles including Ça m'intéresse, Prima, Femme Actuelle, Télé-Loisirs, Voici, Gala, Capital, and VSD. His strategy focused on high-quality visual design and accessible pricing, earning him the nickname "the glossy paper tiger."

Ganz led Prisma Presse until 2005, when he stepped down at age 68 due to mandatory retirement limits. He briefly returned in 2006 to launch the women's weekly Jasmin, which ceased publication less than a year later. He remained active in media circles, serving as vice-president of the Forum d'Avignon. Axel Ganz died on July 21, 2026, in Paris, at the age of 88.