Lothar Lockl resigns as chairman of the ORF board of trustees

Lothar Lockl resigns as chairman of the ORF board of trustees

Lothar Lockl will resign from his position as Chairman of the ORF Foundation Board in June 2025. The withdrawal is due to the “enormous time commitment” of his voluntary work, which is no longer compatible with his obligations as a strategy and communications consultant. During his five years as a member of the Board of Trustees, including three years as chairman, Lockl initiated, among other things, the ORF's successful new digital offerings and further improved the company's financing basis. He described it as a “privilege” to work for the ORF and its audience. Lockl will remain in office until the Board of Trustees is reconstituted and expressed confidence that a competent successor will be chosen to continue to master the ORF's organizational challenges in the future. This reports vienna.at.

The new elections to the Board of Trustees are in the context of a reform that is based on a finding by the Constitutional Court. The next ORF boss will also be elected in the coming term of office. In the event of a tie, the chairman's vote will be decisive. At the same time, the federal government is currently looking for six new members for the board of trustees, with the application deadline ending on May 5, 2025. Expertise in media economics, business administration, communication, media law or controlling is required, as is a balanced gender ratio. The future members will also have a special responsibility, as they will be delegated from various institutions, including the ORF Audience Council, state governments, the ORF Central Works Council and the National Council parties.

Farewell and recognition

Lockl's last official appearance as ORF Foundation Board Chairman will take place on June 16, 2025 during the inaugural meeting of the new board. Among other things, the new appointments to committees for finance, technology and programs are to be made. During his term in office, Lockl was elected unopposed in 2022 and has always worked to successfully overcome the challenges in the media sector. courier reports that Lockl, who was previously federal party secretary of the Greens and worked as campaign manager for Alexander Van der Bellen, attaches great importance to a smooth handover of his tasks. Politicians have already reacted: Green party leader Werner Kogler and media spokeswoman Sigrid Maurer thanked Lockl for his commitment and sense of responsibility, while FPÖ media spokesman Christian Hafenecker was critical of him.

Regardless of the criticism, ORF's popularity remains undisputed. Lockl emphasizes that despite the growing international media competition, over 85 percent of the population in Austria uses at least one ORF offer every day. These figures illustrate the central role of ORF in the Austrian media market. In the upcoming realignment and consolidation of the ORF committees, the public expects a competent dynamic that will ensure high-quality reporting in the future. ORF lists, among other things, the members of the foundation board, including Lothar Lockl.