Captain of the economy: Claus Raidl died – a loss for Styria!

Captain of the economy: Claus Raidl died – a loss for Styria!

Claus Raidl, the former president of the Austrian National Bank (OeNB) and an outstanding manager, has died at the age of 82 after a long illness. Raidl's death, announced on December 10, 2024, deeply shocked the OeNB and the Austrian economy. Raidl, born in Kapfenberg in 1942, was President of the General Council of the OeNB from 2008 to 2018 and is considered a key figure in Austrian industrial history.

With his remarkable career from Voestalpine to Böhler-Uddeholm AG, Raidl had a decisive influence on the steel industry. When he moved to the steel industry in 1986, Voestalpine was in crisis. Raidl took on this challenge and led the company through a transformation. Under his leadership, Böhler-Uddeholm was promoted to among the world market leaders. The current OeNB President Harald Mahrer praised Raidl as a “great personality” who modernized the central bank and had a decisive influence on its leadership steiermark.ORF.at reported.

A legacy of reform

Raidl's talent as a reformer and modernizer was remarkable. During his tenure at the OeNB, he continually contributed to important reforms and put business ideas into practice. His commitment and extensive experience made him a role model both inside and outside the financial world. In his hometown of Kapfenberg, Raidl is remembered not only as a manager, but as an important personality in the region. The pain of his loss is noticeable in the Styrian business scene, because Raidl shaped both private and public companies with his tireless efforts meinkreis.at reported.