Final Negotiations on ORF Regional Directors Ahead of Foundation Council Meeting

Background of the Rotation

In Vorarlberg, a change is emerging according to the available information. Julia Ortner is being discussed as a possible candidate, said to have previously led the regional studio on an interim basis. The Foundation Council is deliberating on the final appointment, according to its own statements. An official confirmation has not yet been issued.

In parallel, negotiations are also being held over the succession in Styria. The talks are said to be about finding a successor to the current regional director. Here too, several people are in discussion, and a final decision has not yet been made, according to the reports.

In the remaining eight federal states, the regional directors are already set, according to the information: Edgar Weinzettl works in Vienna, Werner Herics heads the regional studio in Burgenland, Alexander Hofer the one in Lower Austria, Klaus Obereder in Upper Austria, Esther Mitterstieler in Tyrol, Martin Weberhofer in Carinthia, Sigrid Hroch in Styria — whose succession is now to be newly decided according to the reports — and Gerd Schneider in Salzburg. Should Styria actually be filled anew, only the position in Vorarlberg would remain vacant.

Vacant Posts and Candidates

The negotiations are being conducted, according to information from the Foundation Council, by Director General Clemens Pig and Foundation Council Chairman Michael Krön. Both sides have agreed, according to the reports, to submit the personnel decisions at the next meeting of the supervisory body and put them to a vote there.

Next Steps in the Foundation Council

Observers expect the Foundation Council meeting to take place later this week. Should an agreement be reached, the designated directors would still need to be confirmed by the body before they can officially take office. Within ORF, the personnel matters are thus being regarded as the last open question before the summer break.

According to the available reports, both the Director General and members of the Foundation Council are confident that the open posts can be settled at the next meeting. If this succeeds, the filling of the management level in the regional studios would be concluded for the time being.