ORF Leadership Search: Only 13 out of 77 applicants meet the Foundation Board's criteria

A total of 77 applications were received, 75 of them on time. The acting Director General, Ingrid Thurnher, did not apply. Kronehit CEO Philipp König, who was initially considered among the favorites, also declined to participate.

The 13 Candidates at a Glance

Among the favorites are ORF III co-managing director Kathrin Zierhut-Kunz, APA CEO Clemens Pig, former ProSiebenSat.1Puls4 CEO Markus Breitenecker, ORF magazine editor Lisa Totzauer, and former HBO Max manager Johannes Larcher.

The candidates must now be nominated by a member of the Foundation Board to be admitted to the official hearing. Nominations are to be sent via email to Foundation Board Chairman Heinz Lederer by Monday, June 8, 2026, 12:00 PM.

Regardless of the search committee's outcome, Foundation Board members can nominate candidates from all applications for the hearing on June 11 and propose them for election.

The Further Procedure

The public presentation of the candidates will take place on Monday, June 8, and will be broadcast with a time delay at 8:15 PM on ORF III and ORF ON. The official hearing before the Foundation Board and the Public Council is scheduled for the same evening.

The ORF Foundation Board consists of 35 independent, voluntary members. They are appointed by the federal government (6), the parliamentary parties (6), the federal states (9), the ORF Public Council (9), and the ORF Central Works Council (5).

A simple majority of the votes cast is required for the election of the Director General. In case of a tie, the chairman's vote decides.

Political Composition of the Foundation Board

For the first time, the ORF Foundation Board is explicitly obligated by the European Media Freedom Act (EMFA) and the accompanying national law to follow a transparent, open, effective, and non-discriminatory appointment procedure.

The members of the Foundation Board are – with a few exceptions – organized in party-political circles of friends. The members close to the ÖVP and SPÖ together hold a clear majority.

The Foundation Board declined to release further details about the deliberations or individual applications.