According to the canton's official press release, 53-year-old Madeleine Herzog studied German language and literature, art history, philosophy and literary criticism in Zurich and Berlin. She worked as a research assistant and lecturer at the German Department of the University of Zurich, as a dramaturge and later as head dramaturge at the Theater St. Gallen before taking over as head of the City of St. Gallen's Department of Culture in 2005.

She also chairs the literary policy working group of the national cultural dialog and is a board member of the Städtekonferenz Kultur. In addition, Madeleine Herzog has acquired knowledge in the field of cultural management in various courses. She can look back on a broad range of experience in the field of cultural policy and cultural promotion.

Madeleine Herzog takes up her new post on October 1. She replaces Susanna Tanner, who is leaving the Culture department after 17 years.