Willibald Ehrenhöfer

Career changer from the forestry sector becomes provincial councillor

ÖVP leader Manuela Khom presented Willibald Ehrenhöfer as the new provincial councillor.(Bild: ERWIN SCHERIAU)

Now it's official: the ÖVP has found a successor to Barbara Eibinger-Miedl. Willibald Ehrenhöfer will take over the mega department of Finance, Economy and Science. Born in Eastern Styria, he was most recently Managing Director of the Mayr-Melnhof forestry group.

Rumors have been swirling for a long time, but a concrete name had not yet emerged. After Barbara Eibinger-Miedl (ÖVP), Styrian State Councillor for Economic Affairs, was sent to the federal government as State Secretary, there was much speculation about a possible successor. Now everything is set: Willibald Ehrenhöfer will be the new state councillor.

Forestry director at Mayr-Melnhof
The 52-year-old was born in Feldbach and is a real career changer. He studied forestry and timber management, worked at the Chamber of Agriculture and is currently Forestry Director at Mayr-Melnhof. He is married and has three children. The new provincial councillor was introduced to the provincial party executive on Wednesday morning - he was presented to the public at a press conference at 10 am.

Willibald Ehrenhöfer was presented as the new provincial councillor at a press conference.(Bild: ERWIN SCHERIAU)

Willibald Ehrenhöfer was presented as the new provincial councillor at a press conference.(Bild: ERWIN SCHERIAU)

ÖVP leader and Deputy Governor Manuela Khom is delighted with the new appointment: "We are very pleased to have found a man with expertise in business and finance in Willi Ehrenhöfer. After all, he was the director of Austria's largest forestry company." Ehrenhöfer expressed his thanks for the trust placed in him - it was a "great honor and a great challenge" to fulfill this office. The new provincial councillor will be officially elected in the provincial parliament on Thursday.