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

AUA Resolves Transfer of Undertakings

The supervisory board of Austrian Airlines decided to switch to cheaper collective agreements. The transfer of undertakings is “crucial for AUA´s survival”.

April 20, 2012

Roiss Claims European „Fracking“ Strategy

OMV´s CEO Gerhard Roiss calls for a common strategy to exploit shale gas. The European industrial sector should become more competitive.

April 18, 2012

Austrian Railways Aims for Expansion in SEE

ÖBB (Austrian Railways) wants to establish a new freight subsidiary operating in Southeastern Europe. In Austria, ÖBB performs better than expected.

April 16, 2012

Fekter Nominates Koren as VBAG´s Chief Executive

Maria Fekter, the Austrian Minister of Finance said that Stephan Koren already agreed to become CEO of the partly nationalized bank VBAG.

April 14, 2012

Austria Tries to Adapt its Image

In order to attract foreign investors, Austrian companies are attempting to amend the country’s image. Instead of tourism and culture, the industrial sector and the expertise should be underlined.

April 13, 2012

Fekter to Remain as Finance Minister

This week, rumors on the replacement of the Austrian Finance Minister Maria Fekter occurred. Claus Raidl, who was said to replace Fekter, denies this.

April 13, 2012

Verbund Focuses Investments on Austria

The Austrian energy company plans investments of € 2.4bn in the next five years. About 66% of these investments will be made in Austria.

April 12, 2012

Voestalpine Indicates Significant Increase in Revenues

The Austrian steel company recorded about € 12.0bn in revenues last financial year. 25% of the revenues are based on exports apart from Europe.

April 12, 2012

Raiffeisen Fixes Change in Leadership

The supervisory board of Raiffeisenlandesbank Lower Austria - Vienna approves the changes in leadership. Hameseder succeeds Konrad.

April 11, 2012

Nowotny Ask For Alternative to Financial Transaction Tax

The governor of the Austrian Central Bank (OeNB) sees a good sign in Austria´s low interest rate on sovereign bonds. The introduction of a European financial transaction tax is unrealistic, the governor says.

April 11, 2012

Telecommunication Industry Faces Declining Revenues

Telekom Austria´s CEO Hannes Ametsreiter forecasts declining revenues and profits at the Austrian telecommunication industry. For his own company, Ametsreiter is slightly optimistic.

April 11, 2012

Ruttenstorfer Enters RHI

The former OMV executive becomes supervisory board member at the Austrian RHI.

April 11, 2012

AVE Needs Fresh Funds

The waste management company, which is held by the Upper Austrian energy company Energie AG, intends to pursue its growth strategy in CEE. New capital is needed therefore.

April 10, 2012

Financial Transaction Tax: Schieder Raises Pressure on EU

Austria´s Financial State Secretary Andreas Schieder threatens to vote against higher EU contributions. To discuss about alternatives of the financial transaction tax is “too early.”

April 10, 2012

Eder Ticks Off Rail Cartel

Voestalpine´s CEO Wolfgang Eder underlines the new compliance rules of voestalpine. Another participation in a cartel would be “impossible”.

April 7, 2012

„AUA Must Achieve Turnaround on its own“

Christoph Franz, CEO of Lufthansa explains that the Austrian subsidiary will act independently also in future. Also the restructuring must be completed without Lufthansa´s help.

April 7, 2012

„Natural Gas to Become Most Important Energy Source“

Gerhard Roiss, CEO of the Austrian oil and gas group OMV pushes the EU to recognize the importance of natural gas.

April 7, 2012

Foreign Trade: „We are on the Right Way“

Christoph Leitl, President of the Austrian Chamber of Commerce comments the export development: “The data of January show that we are on the right way.”

April 7, 2012

Oberbank Aims For „Organic Growth“

The Upper-Austrian regional bank continues its growth course and underlines its financial stability and independence.

April 6, 2012

„Power Struggle“: Red Bull Declines Rumors

Red Bull commented that reports on an arising power struggle between the two owners are nothing else as “fanciful speculations”.

April 6, 2012

Power Struggle at Red Bull?

After the death of the inventor of Thai-Austrian energy drink, a power struggle between Mateschitz and the new majority owner may arise.

April 4, 2012

Raiffeisen: Buchleitner Succeeds Hameseder

The series of staffing changes at the Raiffeisen sector goes on. General attorney Konrad leaves, Hameseder succeeds. RWA´s CEO Klaus Buchleitner replaces Hameseder.

April 4, 2012

„Steel Industry Needs Market Adjustment“

Wolfgang Eder, CEO of the Austrian steel company voestalpine, sees massive overcapacities in the European steel Industry. Eder reaffirmed his warning to leave Austria.

April 4, 2012

Frauenthal Expands into Slovakia

The Austrian conglomerate acquires a Slovak sanitary retailer. The automotive segment recovers, CEO Moser says.

April 2, 2012

Konrad to Leave RZB

Christian Konrad, general attorney of the Raiffeisen sector and chairman of RZB supervisory board, will step down in June. Successors are already designated.

April 2, 2012

Euro-Group: Fekter Presses Ahead

Jean-Claude Juncker, head of the euro-group is angry at the Austrian Minister of Finance, Maria Fekter, who presented the summits´ results before Juncker´s press conference.

March 31, 2012

Orange´s CEO: „Takeover by Telekom Austria Is Essential“

According to Michael Krammer, CEO of the third-largest telecommunication service supplier in Austria, Orange is well-financed and healthy. The acquisition of the discount subsidiary by Telekom Austria is “crucial”.

March 31, 2012

Pröll Declines Konrad´s Succession

Josef Pröll, former Austrian Minister of Finance, excludes rumors about the succession of RZB´s chairman Christian Konrad.

March 30, 2012

Bank Austria Considers Leaving East European Markets

UniCredit´s subsidiary may leave Baltic countries as well as Kazakhstan. CEO Cernko is optimistic to achieve more than € 1.0bn in profits this year.

March 30, 2012

FCC to Appoint Benita Ferrero-Waldner as Alpine´s Chairwoman

Austria´s former Minister of Foreign Affairs heads the supervisory board of Alpine. The appointment will take place at the next Supervisory Board meeting of Alpine, FCC's Central and Eastern European subsidiary.

March 29, 2012

Austria Insists on Financial Transaction Tax

Despite Germany’s finance minister sees little chance of a European Union agreement on the levy, Austria is sticking to plans for a financial-transaction tax in Europe to help consolidate its budget.

March 27, 2012

Voestalpine Forecasts Improved Business Conditions

Austrian steel group voestalpine expects results to improve from April 2012 as it benefits from price hikes and solid demand, Reuters reported.

March 27, 2012

Vienna Stock Exchange Calls for New Listings

Birgit Kuras, the new member of VSE´s management board aims to enhance the stock exchange´s importance and pushes for further privatizations.

March 27, 2012

EU Financial Framework Negotiations Enter the Hot Phase

State Secretary Wolfgang Waldner underlines Austria´s position as net contributor at the General Affairs Council in Brussels.

March 27, 2012

Keuschnigg: „Greece Must Leave Eurozone“

The Austrian Economist and designated director of HIS, Christian Keuschnigg advised Greece to leave the euro zone.

March 26, 2012

Koren to Become VBAG´s New CEO?

Finance Minister Maria Fekter aims to nominate the former Vice-CEO of Bawag as board director of VBAG.

March 24, 2012

Rothensteiner Against Bank Insolvencies

Raiffeisen Zentralbank´s CEO Walter Rothensteiner is against the discussion about bank insolvencies.

March 24, 2012

Bank Austria: Cernko Confirmed as CEO

Bank Austria’s Supervisory Board renews the term of office of Willibald Cernko and Rainer Hauser for another three years.

March 23, 2012

Conwert: Haselsteiner Wants Blocking Minority

The Austrian industrialist, who is CEO of Strabag Group, wants to reach at least a 25% stake at the real estate company. Petrus Advisers is said to exit.

March 23, 2012

RBI: Günther Gall Appointed Vice-Chairman of EPC

The Austrian national Günther Gall of Raiffeisen Bank International AG (RBI) was elected vice president of the European Payments Council (EPC).

March 23, 2012

RBI: No Capital Increase

Christian Konrad, general attorney of the Raiffeisen sector, is against a capital increase at RBI (Raiffeisen Bank International). The 9.0% tier-1 quota will be reached without that measure, Konrad is convinced.

March 23, 2012

Hypo Alpe Adria Bank to be Sold this Year

The Austrian subsidiary of the nationalized Hypo Group Alpe Adria will be sold this year. “All potential risk factors are eliminated.” the supervisory board chairman says.

March 22, 2012

Banks have CEE-Subsidiaries „Under Control“

RBI´s CEO Herbert Stepic criticizes the skepticism against banking in Central and Eastern Europe. The economist Aiginger sees more advantages than risks for Austrian banks.

March 21, 2012

Nowotny: “Portugal in Much Better Shape Than Greece”

The Governor of the Austrian Central Bank (OeNB) and ECB Council Member Ewald Nowotny is optimistic on Portugal´s medium-term prospects. The country faces much less liquidity constraints than Greece.

March 21, 2012

Cernko Claims Bank Rescue Fund

Bank Austria´s CEO Willibald Cernko wants the bank tax to be solely used for a stability fund in order to support financially stricken banks.

March 20, 2012

Romanian President Again Critisized OMV´s Petrom

Romanian president Traian Basescu in television again emphasized that he cut ties with largest Romanian company OMV Petrom on ‘incorrect’, high profit-making policy.

March 20, 2012

Telekom Austria: Pecik Denies Sales Talks

The Austrian investor Ronny Pecik is said to have had sales talks with China Mobile. Pecik reaffirms to remain at Telekom Austria as “long-term investor”.

March 19, 2012

AUA: „Restructuring, Not Breaking Up“

Jaan Albrecht, CEO of Austrian Airlines wants to make the airline competitive again. A new foundation is “no issue”.

March 19, 2012

Bank Austria Plays Down Hungary Risks

The head of UniCredit unit Bank Austria's central and eastern Europe business played down potential risks from Hungary in a magazine interview published on Friday.

March 19, 2012

Microsoft Austria Defends First Rank at „Great Place to Work“

In 2012, the U.S. software company is again the best employer among companies beyond 250 employees.

March 17, 2012