Upcoming change in the top management of Austrian Airlines: Annette Mann nominated as CEO successor to Alexis von Hoensbroech

·       CEO/CFO Alexis von Hoensbroech will leave Austrian Airlines and the Lufthansa Group at his own request

·       Lufthansa Group Executive Board nominates Annette Mann as CEO

·       Alexis von Hoensbroech: “I am very proud that we have found a way to get through the existential crisis which we slid into as a consequence of the coronavirus pandemic. I would like to extend my special thanks to the employees of Austrian Airlines for this.”

After a term of office lasting close to three and a half years, Alexis von Hoensbroech will resign from his position as CEO/CFO of Austrian Airlines at his own request. Von Hoensbroech joined Austria’s red-white-red flag carrier as Chief Executive Officer in August 2018. In October 2020, his employment contract was extended until 2026. Effective January 1, 2021, he also assumed the position of Chief Financial Officer in addition to his existing duties. The outgoing CEO/CFO will take over the top management job for an airline in North America in the course of the first quarter of 2022. However, for competitive reasons he will leave Austrian Airlines with immediate effect.

“I look back at the last three and half years with immense gratitude, during which I had the honor of working for the future of our Austrian Airlines with passion and with a great team”, says the outgoing CEO/CFO Alexis von Hoensbroech. “I am very proud that we have found a way to get through the existential crisis we slid into as a consequence of the coronavirus pandemic. I would like to extend my special thanks to the employees of Austrian Airlines. We would never have come so far without their commitment and solidarity. For me personally, it is now time to set off for new shores and take on a new professional challenge outside the Lufthansa Group”, von Hoensbroech adds.

“I would like to thank Alexis von Hoensbroech for his outstanding work for the benefit of Austrian Airlines”, states Christina Foerster, Chairwoman of the Austrian Airlines Supervisory Board. “It is thanks to him and his team that the foundation was laid for a successful restart after the pandemic. On behalf of the entire Supervisory Board, I would like to wish Alexis von Hoensbroech every success in his new role.”

Annette Mann nominated as CEO

The Lufthansa Executive Board decided to nominate Annette Mann, who is currently Head of Corporate Responsibility for the Lufthansa Group, as CEO. She should get off to a flying start for Austrian Airlines in March 2022, working as CEO in cooperation with the other current Executive Board members, namely CCO Michael Trestl and COO Francesco Sciortino, subject to her being formally appointed by the Supervisory Board of Austrian Airlines. For the time being the two board members Michael Trestl and Francesco Sciortino will take over the responsibilities of Alexis von Hoensbroech.

Annette Mann (43) brings extensive management experience gained within the Lufthansa Group, serving in various strategic, conceptional and operational positions over the last 18 years. Growing up near the Austrian border, the business administration graduate is currently Head of Corporate Responsibility at the Lufthansa Group, with responsibility for the further development, management and implementation of a holistic and Group-wide sustainability program. Previously, she held various management positions in the Lufthansa Group. For example, she served as VP Product Management at SWISS in Zurich. At the same time, she was responsible for Inflight & Customer Services of Network Airlines and Co-Negotiator of the LSG Europe sale. Furthermore, Annette Mann worked as Chairwoman of the Advisory Board of the Lufthansa InTouch service center network until the end of 2020. At present, she represents Lufthansa in the Swiss Aviation Foundation, on the Supervisory Board of Lufthansa CityLine and serves as Chairwoman of the Advisory Board of Help Alliance gGmbH.

“The Lufthansa Group Executive Board has nominated Annette Mann, an experienced top manager, to fill the position of CEO of Austrian Airlines. Thanks to her longstanding experience and successful management of many Group-wide projects, Annette Mann brings extensive know-how as well as a strong network to Austrian Airlines. In particular, in her current position as Head of Corporate Responsibility, Annette Mann is in charge of one of the most critical issues impacting the future of our Group. She provides daily proof that she can master the challenges of our time”, concludes Christina Foerster, Chairwoman of the Austrian Airlines Supervisory Board.