Sonja Horner is leaving the WKÖ: A new beginning for the world of communications!

Sonja Horner is leaving the WKÖ: A new beginning for the world of communications!

Sonja Horner is leaving the Austrian Economic Chamber (WKÖ) at her own request. The long-time spokeswoman for WKÖ President Harald Mahrer and deputy head of the communications department has provided significant impetus since 2018. During her time at the WKÖ, she had a decisive influence on strategic and interest-political communication. She previously worked in a senior communications position at the Federal Ministry of Science, Research and Economy.

In a statement, she thanked her warmly for the valuable time and said that she would now like to devote herself to new professional challenges. Harald Mahrer praised their commitment and significant contribution to the positioning of the Chamber of Commerce. The WKÖ would like to thank Sonja Horner for her many years of work and emphasizes that she leaves behind a stable foundation in communications work.

New press spokesman introduces the team

With Horner's resignation, the WKÖ also announced the appointment of a new press spokesman. Andreas Jilly, who previously worked at Austrian Airlines since November 2023, is now taking over from Sonja Horner. His experience also includes the press office in the Federal Ministry of Education, Science and Research and the Ministry of Finance.

Andreas Jilly will act as the third speaker alongside Valentin Petritsch, who is also part of Mahrer's team. This personnel change comes at a time when the communications department at Austrian Airlines was being restructured. Since April, Ingrid Gogl has headed the newly created “Brand & Communication” department, which focuses on communication, marketing and brand management.

Strategic communication concepts for the future

Parallel to these changes, the WKÖ's communication strategy is being further professionalized. A new concept for the transport and traffic division of the Vienna Chamber of Commerce was developed to ensure targeted and uniform communication. Consultant Eva Michlits and managing director Harald Schiffl from the clavis agency discussed expectations, goals and demands in a workshop with representatives and members.

The communication concept includes core messages, topic management and a planning framework for strategic media and public relations work. The aim is to be able to cover all defined target groups by developing measures such as social media management, member communication and events such as the Logistics Salon.

Silvia Fleischhacker, managing director of the transport and traffic division, praised the collaboration with the clavis agency and emphasized the importance of these measures for the future positioning of the division.

These developments in the WKÖ clearly show that the Austrian Chamber of Commerce is striving to position itself in a modern and contemporary manner, while at the same time relying on proven structures and experienced minds.