CEO Confirms Mgmt Bd Member's Exit - Newspaper

Confirms Mgmt Bd Member's Exit - Newspaper VIENNA (Dow Jones)--Austrian Airlines AG's (AUA.VI)Chief Executive Alfred Oetsch has confirmed the departure of management board member Josef Burger in a company email, reports Austrian daily Die Presse Tuesday. "I ask for your understanding that we don't comment on management board member Burger's leaving," Oetsch wrote to his employees in the internal email, which Die Presse has received a copy of. Burger has been on coalition course with CEO Oetsch regarding the carrier's extensive turnaround plan that has seen its long-haul destination portfolio considerably reduced, Die Presse reports. The newspaper says Burger is furthermore being accused of having leaked details of a co-operation agreement between AUA and Austrian catering company Do&Co to the press, a deal that proved less favorable for AUA, according to Die Presse. The mistrust allegedly was so outspoken that Oetsch hired a security company to conduct an investigation against Burger, Die Presse writes, quoting unconfirmed rumours. But also the CEO himself is faced with heavy criticism from within AUA, the newspaper continues. The carrier's staff association intends to call for Alfred Oetsch's resignation at a meeting with Austria's Chancellor Alfred Gusenbauer, which is to take place in the coming days. The association accuses Oetsch of "management by chaos", Die Presse writes. Austria holds a 42.75% stake in AUA through the state-holding company OIAG.