Weißmann denies

ORF general manager resigns after harassment allegations

Nominations for the election of the ORF boss must be on the table by May – now Roland Weißmann is at the center of a harassment scandal.(Bild: Andreas Tischler)

A bombshell at Küniglberg: ORF Director General Roland Weißmann is stepping down from his post with immediate effect after 31 years with the company. The reason for this is allegations of sexual harassment of a female employee – which Weißmann denies via his lawyer. Until further notice, a long-standing ORF employee is to take over the post ...

The allegations of "inappropriate behavior" date back to the beginning of his tenure in 2022. The employee who made the allegations is known to the foundation board, but not to Weißmann himself. However, she is not believed to be a presenter.

By resigning just one week before his 58th birthday, Weißmann preempted an ultimatum that the highest supervisory board of the public broadcaster is said to have given him. According to ORF circles, he also confirmed the allegations in an internal Q&A session. However, the ORF boss vehemently denies this via his lawyer. "Although my client denied the allegations and no substantive review of the allegations took place, he announced his immediate resignation on Saturday at 11:45 a.m.," said Oliver Scherbaum. Probably to avert damage to the company ...

Intrigue before the election of the director general?
The fact that ORF made the allegations public via a press release is met with incomprehension by the lawyer and his client. "The media dissemination of the unresolved allegations can only be seen as an excessive reaction, as an agreement has already been reached with the employee concerned." The Foundation Board itself intends to issue a statement at noon. It is certain that legendary ORF presenter Ingrid Thurnher will take over on an interim basis.

It is interesting to note that the allegations, which date back four years, are coming to light now of all times: the names for the election of the new ORF boss must be on the table by May, and until now everything had pointed to Roland Weißmann standing for re-election. Lawyer Scherbaum sees "an intrigue, significantly just a few months before the election." This will take place in August by the Foundation Board. 

 "Definitely a zero-tolerance policy"
This is not the first harassment scandal at ORF: for example, a former ORF manager took legal action because she felt discriminated against after she had made public the bullying and sexual harassment she had suffered at the hands of a superior. At the time, Roland Weißmann also had to testify in court. "We definitely have a zero-tolerance policy toward sexual harassment," the ORF boss, who is now himself the focus of attention, stated at the time...