Guetersloh, Germany  - German publishing giant Bertelsman Group nominated Liz Mohn as the new person in charge on Friday, after the death of her husband Reinhard Mohn last week.

The decision means Liz Mohn will oversee more than 100,000 employees, working in the corporation's publishing houses as well as 45 television channels, 32 radio stations plus newspapers.

Mohn's widow is to take the exact position that her husband held, which means she will have a decisive veto right within the holding company, at the heart of the Bertelsmann empire.

"Reinhard Mohn wanted his wife Liz to take over his role," company chairman Gunter Thielen told German daily Frankfurter Allgemeine.

Mohn died last Saturday, aged 88.

Bertelsmann owns Random House, the world's principal general books publisher. Alongside its huge printing works, Bertelsmann was once a major force in recorded music, before ceding to Sony the control over their joint venture.

Bertelsmann Stiftung, which does extensive public education and other charity work, holds 76.9 per cent of the group. dpa