Solo managing director

State and city agree on new GSWB boss

An experienced housing manager from Upper Austria is to become the sole managing director of the crisis-hit housing developer owned by the state and city.

Many expected a new dual leadership following the departure of Peter Rassaerts as head of GSWB. However, politicians have now agreed on a solo managing director. Ferdinand Hochleitner from Upper Austria is to take over Gswb, the housing association of the province and city, from October.

The 60-year-old housing manager was most recently head of the construction and real estate management department at the state of Upper Austria for two years. Prior to that, he was co-managing director of the non-profit OÖ Wohnbau for 16 years. A commission of experts unanimously ranked Hochleitner first among the candidates and he is to receive a five-year contract.

According to "Krone" information, no candidate has emerged as a second managing director among the applicants. The city and state also hope to be able to better implement reforms in the crisis-ridden company with a solo CEO. The owner representatives Wilfried Haslauer (ÖVP) for the state and Kay-Michael Dankl (KPÖ Plus) for the city have high expectations of Hochleitner.