The Rossel Group is the largest in the French-speaking Belgian media market, with a rich history dating back to 1887 when the newspaper Le Soir was founded by Émile Rossel and two of his friends, Nicolas Corbelin and Édouard Roels.
During World War I, publication of Le Soir was suspended, but it resumed under the direction of Émile’s son, Victor Rossel, who served as its editor until the onset of World War II. Marie-Thérèse Rossel, Victor’s daughter, subsequently assumed leadership of Le Soir, overseeing a period of significant growth and diversification. Under her direction, the company underwent several acquisitions, including the notable La Meuse titles in 1966, which expanded its assets from the post-WW2 era until the 1980s.
In 1985, Marie-Thérèse Rossel bequeathed the group to cousin families, the Hurbains and the Declerqs.
Two years later, the Declerqs sold their shares to Socopresse, a French media group.The ownership situation remained shared until 2005, when the Hurbains decided to buy over the remaining 40% and become full owners of the Rossel group. Le Soir remains the group’s primary newspaper publication.
The Rossel group has experienced consistent growth, marked by strategic acquisitions, including in the French market.
Notably, the group has a history of collaboration with DPG Media, evidenced by joint acquisitions such as L’Echo (2004), De Tijd (2005), and most recently RTL Belgium (2022).The group also successfully managed the subsidiary Mediafin for over a decade. The 2022 acquisition of RTL represents a significant expansion opportunity for both groups, offering the potential for substantial innovation in the television and radio sector due to RTL’s extensive portfolio.Since 2005, the Rossel group has been 100% owned by the Hurbain family through subsidiaries. However, the Euromedia Research Group notes that the interconnection and beneficial ownership of the various subsidiaries owned by this family remain unclear. The Hurbain family is among the most affluent in Belgium. In 2021, the family was ranked 128th with a net worth of €169 million.
