Random House, the world’s largest book publisher, is to be run by a print services executive from Germany, a move parent Bertelsmann hopes will bring new ideas to a slow-growing business.

Announcing his first big personnel decision since taking over the media and services group five months ago, chief executive Hartmut Ostrowski said Markus Dohle would switch from the Arvato services unit to succeed US book veteran Peter Olson on June 1.