Vienna International Community - Top Diplomats - Latest Headlines

Read updated news about key diplomats in Vienna's international community,e.g. changes in diplomatic personnel in Austria & at Austrian representations abroad

Vienna Stock Exchange: „Too Early for Investments“

VSE´s CEO Birgit Kuras explains why listings at Vienna Stock Exchange are declining. In the medium term, the conditions for the equity market would be favorable, however.

July 26, 2012

Nowotny Wants Bank License for ESM

The governor of OeNB (Austrian Central Bank) Ewald Nowotny told the news agency Bloomberg that there would be some good reasons for this solution.

July 26, 2012

Former AUA Board Member Bierwirth Enters T-Mobile

Andreas Bierwirth becomes CEO of T-Mobile Austria. The current CEO Robert Chvatal leaves the company for “personal reasons”.

July 25, 2012

Aiginger: „Feeding Banks Makes No Sense“

The director of WIFO (Austrian Institute of Economic Research) thinks that Spanish banks must be able to become insolvent.

July 24, 2012

Fekter: Greek Exit is „No Issue“

Austria´s Finance Minister Maria Fekter thinks that a Greek exit is no option for the time being. „We wait for the report of the Troika.“

July 24, 2012

Growing Pressure on Viennese Location for Headquarters

The Viennese Chamber of Commerce intensifies the dialogue with international headquarters. In autumn, the first headquarter congress will take place in Vienna.

July 21, 2012

RBI: Bad Development in Hungary

Herbert Stepic, CEO of Raiffeisen Bank International expects that the development of non-performing loans is stable this year.

July 21, 2012

"Wage Cuts in Southern Europe Inevitable"

Christian Keuschnigg, director of the Austrian Institute of Advanced Studies thinks that a fiscal union will not work. The recession in Southern Europe will go on.

July 21, 2012

Hutchison: „Telecommunication Network Overburdened in Two Years“

Jan Trionow, CEO of Hutchison Austria, appeals on authorities to approve the takeover of the competitor Orange. The Austrian telecommunication network will face capacity problems soon.

July 21, 2012

Hypo Group: „As Little Bank Aids as Possible“

Hypo Group Alpe Adria´s CEO Gottwald is unhappy with reports that the state-owned bank may need further bank aids.

July 20, 2012

Austerity Program at RBI

Raiffeisen Bank International´s CEO Herbert Stepic is against a capital increase. The market conditions would be unfavorable.

July 20, 2012

Vienna Insurance Group: Still Growth Potential in CESEE

VIG´s new CEO Peter Hagen aims to achieve external as well as internal growth. The process of catching up will go on.

July 20, 2012

Resistance Against Enlargement of ÖIAG

The chairman of ÖBB´s (Austrian Railways) supervisory board Horst Pöchhacker rejects the idea of integrating ÖBB, Verbund or Asfinag into the publicly held Austrian industrial holding ÖIAG.

July 19, 2012

Takeover of Croatian Aluflex Failed

The Austrian Hypo Group Alpe Adria will not sell the Croatian aluminum group to the Swiss MTC (Montana Tech Components).

July 19, 2012

Hutchison´s CEO: „Austria Benefits from Merger“

Hutchison Austria still holds on the acquisition of the third largest telecommunication service supplier Orange.

July 19, 2012

Nowotny: „Germany Has Key Function“

The governor of OeNB (Austrian Central Bank) is against forced loans in Austria. Regarding Eurobonds, Germany as Europe´s biggest economy would have the key function.

July 18, 2012

Nowotny to be Re-Elected

The governor of OeNB (Austrian Central Bank) Ewald Nowotny is said to be re-elected in his current position.

July 18, 2012

„IMF Is Not Our Enemy“

Hungary´s Prime Minister Viktor Orban returns to the bargaining table. The country needs up to € 20bn.

July 17, 2012

Koren will be new CEO of VBAG

Starting from 1 september 2012, Koren becomes the new head of VBAG´s management board. New member of the board Rainer Borns should represent a „strong connecting link to regional Volksbanks“.

July 17, 2012

Fischer Signs ESM and Fiscal Pact

The Austrian Federal President Heinz Fischer approves the parliamentary referanda on the highly controversial ESM and Fiscal Pact. Now, only a constitutional complaint may prevent these issues.

July 17, 2012

Bulgaria Aims to Join Eurozone

Bulgaria´s Finance Minister Simeon Djankov underlines the importance of the banking supervision and the Fiscal Pact, but wants to keep the fiscal competence.

July 16, 2012

CEO Strauss Buys 38% of Porr´s Shares

Strauss-Group acquires equity stake of the B&C-Gruppe and of the UniCredit Bank Austria AG on the Austrian construction company.

July 16, 2012

Austrian Railways to Record Profits Already in 2012

Christian Kern, CEO of Austrian Railways, explains that the company´s restructuring is going on. The results would be better than the expectations.

July 16, 2012

“The time has come to design the EU of the 21st century”

„Europe – Quo Vadis?“ The Austrian Foreign State Secretary Waldner opens the Forum Europe in Styria with a keynote speech.

July 16, 2012

Changes in Petrom’s Executive Board

Petrom, the largest oil and gas producer in Southeastern Europe, announces a change in its Executive Board. Starting September 1, 2012.

July 13, 2012

VBAG-Restructuring Proves Problematic

In March, the Austrian VBAG Banking Group became partly nationalized. A new CEO has not been found yet.

July 12, 2012

Austrian AAA „Not in Danger“

The Austrian economist and chairman of the public debt council Bernhard Felderer thinks that Austria will keep its Triple-A rating. Felderer´s statement is not undisputed.

July 12, 2012

Fischer Wants to Check ESM

Austria´s Federal President Heinz Fischer does not sign the ESM approval by the Austrian Parliament yet. „I am not under time pressure.“ he says.

July 11, 2012

Banking Supervision: Nowotny Warns of Botch

The governor of the Austrian Central Bank (OeNB) thinks that the timeline fort he planned unified banking supervision authority is „very short“.

July 10, 2012

Nowotny on Greece: „We Do Not Have Unlimited Time“

Ewald Nowotny, the governor of OeNB (Austrian Central Bank) is concerned about the Greek austerity program.

July 9, 2012

ESM Approved by Austrian Parliament

The controversial European Stability Mechanism was ratified by the Austrian National Council. The right opposition parties criticized the approval massively.

July 6, 2012

AT&S: Management Board Re-Elected

Andreas Gerstenmayer will keep his function as CEO oft he Austrian high tech company. A dividend of € 0.32 per share has been resolved.

July 6, 2012

ÖIAG Looking for New Leader

After the resignation of Markus Beyrer, the Austrian publicly held ÖIAG (Austrian Industrial Holding) seeks for a new CEO.

July 5, 2012

Reorganization at UniCredit

The Italian banking group plans to dezentralize its structure. Bank Austria as CESEE hub is affected.

July 5, 2012

Voestalpine to Put Effort into Growth

The Austrian steel producer intends to grow through acquisitions again in the medium term. Exports to Brazil and Asian countries should be promoted.

July 4, 2012

New CEO at ATB

Andreas Schindler is the new Chief Executive Officer of the Wolong-owned ATB Austria Antriebstechnik.

July 4, 2012

Austrian Environmental Minister Against Fracking

Nikolaus Berlakovich thinks that shale gas is no alternative. Fracking would be „extremely environmentally harmful“.

July 3, 2012

Oblin New CFO at Austrian Post

The previous strategy manager Walter Oblin succeeds Rudolf Jettmar as Chief Financial Officer.

July 2, 2012

„ECB as Only Supervisor Not Likely“

OeNB`s (Austrian Central Bank) Governor Ewald Nowotny does not think that ECB will act as only banking supervision authority.

July 2, 2012

Alfred Stern Joins Borealis Executive Board

Borealis, an Austria provider of chemical and innovative plastics solutions, announces the appointment of Alfred Stern as Executive Vice President for Polyolefins, effective July 1, 2012.

July 2, 2012

Hungary: Financial Transaction Tax to be Extended

The Hungarian government plans a growth stimulus program, which should be funded with the extension of the current financial transaction tax.

June 30, 2012

New Board Member at CA Immo

The supervisory board of the Austrian real estate company decided changes on the board of CA Immo. Florian Nowotny succeeds Wolfhard Fromwald.

June 30, 2012

Infineon to Invest € 250m in Austria

In 2012, Infineon Austria´s CEO Monika Kircher-Kohl wants to make investments of € 250m. The high tech company is already looking for new staff.

June 28, 2012

WIFO Wants Unlimited Firewall

According to the Austrian Institute of Economic Research, the firewall must be big enough in order to make speculation against the euro unattractive.

June 28, 2012

Spindelegger: „Austria Must Delegate Competencies“

The Austrian Vice Chancellor and chairman of ÖVP Michael Spindelegger wants the centralize the European Union.

June 27, 2012

Leitl: „Securing Austria´s Top Ranking“

WKO´s President Christoph Leitl calls for reforms. In order retain Austria´s economic position, reforms should be accelerated and taxes should be cut.

June 27, 2012

CESEE: „Nothing Has Changed“

Walter Rothensteiner, CEO of Austrian Raiffeisen Zentralbank, is convinced of the success of the expansion into the CESEE region.

June 26, 2012

Rothensteiner Succeeds Konrad

Walter Rothensteiner becomes general attorney of the Austrian Raiffeisen sector. Christian Konrad resigned.

June 25, 2012

„The end of the Euro would mean Europe´s Explosion“

Ewald Nowotny, governor of the Austrian Central Bank (OeNB) reaffirms that Europe needs the Euro.

June 25, 2012

Treichl: „Europe Does Not Need the Euro“

Andreas Treichl, CEO of Austrian Erste Group thinks that the European Union would work very well without the common currency. A common army would be more important.

June 25, 2012