Georg Restle is stepping down as editor-in-chief and moderator of the ARD political magazine Monitor. He will host his final episode on the channel Das Erste on March 26. From June 1, 2026, he will lead the cross-media ARD studio in Nairobi.
Georg Restle has moderated the ARD political magazine Monitor on Das Erste since 2012 and served as its editor-in-chief. The WDR announced that he will host his last episode on March 26. His successor will be announced at a later date. Starting June 1, 2026, Restle will take over leadership of the cross-media ARD studio in Nairobi. He previously worked as a foreign correspondent in Ukraine and Moscow. Restle joined Monitor as an editor in 2000, became deputy editor-in-chief in 2007, and served as Moscow correspondent from 2010 to 2012 before returning as moderator and editor-in-chief. „I am very much looking forward to the new challenge, which I approach with great humility,“ Restle said in a WDR statement. He aims to strengthen ARD reporting from African countries. WDR editor-in-chief for politics and current affairs Ellen Ehni praised Restle for standing for „in-depth and critical journalism with backbone.“ She is pleased that he has been won over as cross-media studio head for this reporting area. The announcement came from Cologne, home of WDR.
