Mark Zuckerberg (31), founder and CEO of Facebook, is the first recipient of the newly established Axel Springer Award, which will be presented annually from this year onwards. The Award is given to outstanding entrepreneurial personalities who demonstrate an exceptional talent for innovation, create and transform markets, shape culture, and also face their social responsibility.

The Award recognizes the recipients' achievements so far and encourages them to develop these further. Mathias Döpfner, CEO of Axel Springer SE: "We are presenting the Award to Mark Zuckerberg because with Facebook, he has created the most significant communication medium in a generation. Facebook has transformed and enriched our culture, while also posing new challenges. Anyone, at any time, can talk about whatever they want to a wide audience. But how is this power to be used responsibly? Mark Zuckerberg is intensively engaging with this issue. Facebook has become an important distribution channel for the media industry. And the company is developing new options for treating creatives and their publishers fairly. The aim of our Award is to encourage Mark to continue down this road, regardless of any opposition he might face."

Mark Zuckerberg will receive the Award in person on 25 February 2016 at a ceremony at the Axel Springer group headquarters in Berlin. The Axel Springer Award is a non-monetary prize. The winner is selected by the executive board of Axel Springer SE, following suggestions by employees and, in the future, also from the public.