|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
Austria’s national broadcaster ORF has unveiled the core production team for next year’s Eurovision Song Contest, drawing on a wealth of experience from the 2015 event in Vienna. With familiar faces once again at the helm, ORF is aiming for both excellence in production and a seamless celebration of pan-European music.
Executive Producer: Michael Krön
As Executive Producer, ORF Chief Producer Michael Krön will lead the project, representing ORF at the highest level and reporting directly to management. Bringing a broad purview of responsibility, he is tasked with overseeing every aspect of the contest’s production—from creative direction to logistical execution. According to ORF Director General Roland Weißmann, “We have just under a year to implement a mega‑project,” and Krön’s leadership is central to those ambitions
Show Producer: Stefan Zechner
Show Producer Stefan Zechner returns to the Eurovision stage after serving as head of Austria’s delegations since 2011 and as Show Producer for the 2015 Vienna contest. In this creative role, he will drive the on-screen narrative, develop staging concepts, and guide the live broadcast flow.
Head of Production: Daniel Hack
Daniel Hack steps in as Head of Production. Formerly the production economic manager at ORF’s Multimedia Newsroom, Hack will coordinate the project’s logistical and budgetary frameworks, ensuring production workflows run smoothly.
Technical Manager: Christine Tichy
Tasked with managing all technical aspects of the contest—from lighting rigs and sound systems to broadcast infrastructure—is Christine Tichy. Having served as Assistant Production Manager during Eurovision 2015, she returns with deep operational knowledge and technical acumen.
Head of Communications: Roman Horacek
With ORF’s communications across national and international media at stake, Roman Horacek will lead this critical task. A veteran since 2005 and former Head of Communications in Vienna 2015, he will oversee press, media outreach, and public relations.
Marketing Manager: Iris Keutter
To ensure funding, sponsorships, and creative promotion of the contest, ORF appoints Iris Keutter as Marketing Manager. A strategic partner in Austria’s earlier Eurovision campaigns (including Copenhagen and Vienna 2015), Keutter will craft aria-worthy campaign narratives.
Event Manager: Oliver Lingens
For off-air activities—ticketing, side events, hospitality, and Media Centre logistics—Oliver Lingens takes point. His experience in managing Vienna 2015’s event operations will be invaluable to creating a festival atmosphere beyond the main stage.
Executive Assistant: Christina Lassnig
Supporting Krön and the executive office in administrative coordination is Christina Lassnig, ensuring internal communication and organization are effective and responsive
Facebook.
Secretary General: Christina Heinzle‑Conrad
As the vital liaison between ORF’s core team and its General Directorate, Christina Heinzle‑Conrad guarantees alignment between organizational strategy and production demands.
Legal Advisor: Martin Szerencsi
With the contest’s legal complexities—from broadcast rights to performer contracts—Martin Szerencsi returns as Legal Advisor, bringing his expertise from 2015 and other major televised events.
Why the 2015 alumni matter
By reassembling the 2015 core team, ORF harnesses a blend of Eurovision know-how and institutional memory. Vienna 2015 impressed audiences with sleek staging, flawless transitions, and a cohesive event strategy. The returning team signals an ambition not just to replicate that success, but to elevate it—leaning on tested expertise while embracing fresh creative ideas.
With just under a year until showtime, coordination across creative, logistical, technical, marketing, and legal channels is critical—and this seasoned team is designed to deliver.
