Controversial ORF Manager Pius Strobl Suspended

Pius Strobl, a senior manager at the Austrian public broadcaster ORF, has been suspended from his duties. Strobl is known as one of the highest-paid executives at the organization, with a gross annual salary of 469,000 Euros, according to the ORF Transparency Report released on Tuesday.

The suspension follows recent scrutiny over Strobl's pension arrangements. At a Foundation Council meeting in late April, where Ingrid Thurnher was appointed interim Director General, questions were raised about Strobl's pension claims. Leonhard Dobusch, a member of the ORF Foundation Council, had recommended that ORF's management present a factual report on Strobl's pension contract due to "suspected infidelity and balance sheet falsification."

Strobl, who is set to retire at the end of 2026, has overseen significant projects, including the renovation of the ORF Center. While his high salary has been a subject of public discussion, the pension deal, reportedly negotiated with former Director General Alexander Wrabetz, was particularly contentious. Wrabetz's successor, Roland Weißmann, had allegedly sought to revoke this pension agreement.

The ORF Foundation Council is scheduled to convene on Monday afternoon to discuss the matter further and is expected to issue a statement regarding Strobl's suspension. The news of Strobl's dismissal was first reported by the online publication "Profil."