The PR expenses of the Vienna Chamber of Commerce (WKW) increased significantly during the tenure of former president Walter Ruck. According to research by ORF, the annual costs for PR, press, and media work rose from just under 64,000 euros in 2015 to around 976,000 euros in 2024.

This means the expenses have more than quintupled over nine years. Contracts with PR consultants Rudolf Fußi and Wolfgang Rosam, whose agencies simultaneously advised the Chamber of Commerce, are particularly in focus.

Walter Ruck took over the presidency of the Vienna Chamber of Commerce in 2014. A year later, the PR budget was still just under 64,000 euros.

By 2024, expenses had risen to around 976,000 euros. This is according to figures from the Chamber of Commerce, which ORF evaluated.

The Chamber justifies the increased communication effort, among other things, with the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ukraine war, and the shortage of skilled workers. These developments required a stronger public positioning of the interests of its members.

For this, the Chamber of Commerce relied on external communication consultants.

Particular attention is given to contracts with PR consultant Rudolf Fußi. ORF obtained these documents as part of a court case under the Freedom of Information Act.

According to ORF, a contract from 2017 provided for a monthly flat rate of 2000 euros for availability on weekends and public holidays.

The Chamber of Commerce explained that this service was regularly utilized. In the Chamber’s assessment, billing by the hour would have been more expensive.

Furthermore, Fußi’s agency also took on personal advising for the president and the board of directors.

For this service package, 15,394 euros per month were recently allocated.

In parallel, there was another consulting agreement with an agency around Wolfgang Rosam.

This was intended to support the Vienna Chamber of Commerce in its political and media positioning.

For the so-called interest-political strategy and topic consulting, 6,500 euros per month were recently agreed upon.

The Chamber of Commerce emphasized to ORF that the two consulting companies had different focuses.

Rosam pointed out that he had already advised the chamber before Ruck’s presidency.

The Vienna FPÖ had already drawn attention to the high PR expenses in August and is demanding a special audit.

According to calculations by the Freedom Party, published contracts since 2019 result in a total volume of 18.579 million euros.

However, this sum is not equivalent to the actual PR consulting costs paid. According to ORF, framework agreements were not always fully utilized. Additionally, the published contracts also include expenses for advertisements and billboards.

According to ORF, the consulting contracts with the agency around Rosam were renewed annually between 2015 and 2025.

The awards were made either directly or in procedures where only one offer was submitted.

When asked by ORF whether comparative offers were obtained and why the services were not tendered together, the Chamber of Commerce did not provide a specific answer.

However, the WKW stated that the contracts in question have since been terminated.

In the future, they want to focus on project-based tenders to create more transparency.

The debate over PR expenses comes at a time of personnel changes at the top of the Vienna Chamber of Commerce. Walter Ruck resigned as president in July 2026.

The newly revealed contract details raise questions about the level of communication expenses and the awarding practices during his tenure.

Whether and to what extent an additional review of the expenses will take place is not clear from the available information.

(Ed.)

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