OMV tidies up before the new boss opens the door

Vienna, April 15, 2026. OMV is streamlining its operations—thoroughly, quickly, and as quietly as possible. Since the Easter holidays, an offer has been circulating among employees of the partially state-owned energy company that’s hard to turn down: Anyone who leaves voluntarily will receive a golden handshake. The terms are said to be generous, and interest is correspondingly high. The company plans to cut 400 full-time positions by 2027. All of this is happening just a few weeks before the new CEO, Daniela Vlad-Cibira, officially takes the helm.

Timing is everything—even when it comes to job cuts

The timing of this move is no coincidence. Anyone familiar with the corporate world knows the drill: A new leadership team wants to start with a clean slate. Legacy issues, difficult decisions, unpopular measures—those are dealt with beforehand. The outgoing leadership team takes the blame, allowing the new one to present itself as a visionary rather than an austerity commissioner. It’s a tried-and-true pattern, and OMV is executing it perfectly.

Officially, the job cuts are said to be part of a strategic realignment. The company has to get fit for the energy transition, become leaner, more efficient. That sounds reasonable. But behind the scenes, it's about more than just efficiency. It's about power, about control, about the question of who will be in charge at Austria's most important energy company in the future.

Who benefits, who pays?

Golden handshakes cost money. A lot of money. According to insiders, the severance payments are significantly higher than the legal minimum; otherwise, the workforce’s keen interest would be hard to explain. Ultimately, taxpayers also bear these costs. The Austrian government holds a 31.5 percent stake in OMV through ÖBAG. When the company spends millions on severance packages, it reduces the dividend—and thus the federal government’s revenue.

In addition to the managers, who are elegantly ridding themselves of an unpleasant task, the main beneficiaries are, above all, international investors. They want lean structures and high returns. The interests of the workforce, the Austrian locations, and long-term security of supply—all of that is a different matter.

The Illusion of Volition

To call this a „voluntary“ downsizing program is, at best, a euphemism. Anyone who has been working at OMV for years feels the pressure. The message is clear: Anyone who doesn’t leave now could be shown the door later without a severance package. It’s an offer you can’t refuse, because the alternative could be even more unpleasant. This kind of “voluntary” departure leaves a bitter aftertaste.

The silence of politics is also remarkable. Not a single critical word from the ÖVP and the Greens, who represent the state in ÖBAG. No questions as to whether this dismantling is strategically sensible. No debate as to whether a partially state-owned company should be shedding expertise in times of geopolitical energy uncertainty. The motto seems to be: Close your eyes and get through it.

The Two Sides of Power

OMV presents itself as a modern corporation preparing for the future. The reality is far more mundane: Unpopular decisions are being pushed through ahead of a leadership change, financed with taxpayer money, while politicians look the other way. When Daniela Vlad-Cibira starts her first day as CEO in May, the dirty work will already be done. She will then be able to announce a fresh start—at the expense of 400 people who have lost their jobs. YANUS will stay on top of this.