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IOI Secretary General Amon resigns due to a new professional opportunity in Styria
On 5 July 2022, Mr. Werner Amon resigned from his posts as Ombudsman of the Republic of Austria and consequently, as IOI Secretary General due to a new professional opportunity in his home State of Styria, where he took on the position of Minister for European and International Affairs, Education, and Human Resources of the State of Styria.
Despite the limitations caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and his shortened term as IOI Secretary General, Mr. Amon made an important contribution to strengthening the IOI’s standing on the international level. He played a leading role in the IOI being granted the status of an “International institution” under the Austrian Act on Headquarter Locations. Under his leadership, the IOI’s cooperation and relations with international organisations and Ombudsman networks were further consolidated and the IOI was able to continuously grow its worldwide membership. Mr. Amon also achieved a substantive increase in the number of staff members at the IOI General Secretariat in Vienna and introduced a new, modern corporate identity for the IOI.
“The Secretary General’s contribution to the IOI may date over a shorter period, but it has been nothing short of profound. His legacy will be of not just transformational growth to the IOI Secretariat, but also greatly enhancing the IOI’s place in the international community. It is of considerable comfort to me that in losing our Secretary General, the wonderful citizens of Styria will now be served by an exceptional Minister. I admire the Secretary General enormously as a professional, but I also value him as a dear friend. His warmth, collegiality and generosity to me is one that I will not forget.”
Following the practice of the past, Mr. Amon will be available as an external consultant to the IOI Board for the period of one year, in order to ensure a smooth transition and an orderly handover of the Secretariat’s affairs to his successor. “Being a part of this important organization has been a privilege and I will continue to be a strong supporter and ally of the IOI,” said Mr. Amon when he resigned from office.
The staff members of the IOI General Secretariat would like to thank Mr. Amon for the good collaboration and wish him all the best for his professional and personal future.
