OÖ Landes-Kultur GmbH

New top commercial manager for the state’s museums

The operations of the Upper Austrian State Museum - including the Palace Museum in Linz - will have a new Head of Finance(Bild: Markus Wenzel)

As previously reported, Isolde Perndl, chief financial manager of Landes-Kultur GmbH, will be leaving the cultural institution on June 30. Her successor has now been appointed: Manfred Mandl, an experienced controller, will take over as commercial manager from July 1.

Isolde Perndl was commercially responsible for the spin-off of the Upper Austrian state's major museums in 2020 and is now leaving the company to manage the commercial agendas of the Upper Austrian universities of applied sciences in future.

Decision after hearings
Out of 17 applicants for the succession, six were invited to a hearing. The decision has now been made: As of July 1, 2024, Manfred Mandl (42) is to take over the commercial management and thus form the dual management of OÖ Landes-Kultur GmbH together with Alfred Weidinger, who is responsible for the artistic area.

Alfred Weidinger heads the artistic agendas of OÖ Landes Kultur GmbH(Bild: Markus Wenzel)

Dual leadership for the museums
Mandl and Weidinger are thus jointly responsible for the operations of the Upper Austrian State Museum with the main locations of the Palace Museum, State Gallery and Biology Center as well as all secondary locations and the Upper Austrian Cultural Quarter.

Further development is required
"We are delighted that we have succeeded in recruiting Manfred Mandl, a highly professional manager with an affinity for culture from the fields of finance and accounting, who will successfully develop this important cultural institution for Upper Austria together with Prof. Weidinger," said Governor Thomas Stelzer.

Manfred Mandl becomes Head of Finance at OÖ Landes-Kultur GmbH(Bild: ZVg)

Most recently in social enterprises
Mandl studied business administration at the Vienna University of Economics and Business Administration, specializing in corporate taxation and corporate finance. After graduating, he worked in controlling, finance and business functions as an expert, authorized signatory and managing director.

Mandl has been employed at Kultur.Region.Niederösterreich GmbH since 2014, including around 3 years as Head of Group Controlling and also around 3 years as Commercial Managing Director. Since the beginning of 2022, Manfred Mandl has been responsible for the regional management of Caritas of the Diocese of St. Pölten.