From left: Gerhard Schuster (former CEO of Wien 3420 AG), Karin Lux (Managing Director, AzW), Daniel Riedl (CDO of Vonovia SE), Brigitte Jilka (former Director of Urban Planning for the City of Vienna), Tarek Leitner (moderator), and Michael Ehlmaier (Managing Partner, EHL)

On the occasion of its 75th anniversary, BUWOG used its established “BUWOG in Dialogue” event series as the setting for an exclusive and high-profile gala: around 200 invited guests celebrated with BUWOG, including Wolfgang Scheibenpflug (head of real estate and location management at Vienna Airport AG), Sne Veselinović (architect), Christian Heiss (architect), and Christiane Varga (sociologist and futurologist). The evening was musically accompanied by a quartet from the Vienna Philharmonic.

ZiB anchorman Tarek Leitner moderated the anniversary celebration. The invited guests from the real estate, architecture, and business sectors – including Karina Schunker (managing director of EHL Wohnen), Daniel Jelitzka (owner of JP Immobilien), Claudia Brey (managing director of ÖBB-Immobilienmanagement), Peter Engert (managing director of the Austrian Sustainable Building Council), and Alexandra Gruber (managing director of Die Tafel Österreich) – enjoyed a panel discussion with Michael Ehlmaier (managing partner, EHL), Brigitte Jilka (former city planning director of Vienna), Karin Lux (managing director, AzW), Daniel Riedl (CDO, Vonovia), and Gerhard Schuster (former CEO of Wien 3420 AG). Together, they reviewed BUWOG’s key milestones and developments in the Viennese housing market, highlighting aspects such as quality of life, urban development, and sustainability. The departure of Daniel Riedl from the board of management of BUWOG’s parent company Vonovia was also discussed, and his successful work for BUWOG over many decades was acknowledged.

Michael Ludwig, mayor of Vienna, congratulates BUWOG on its anniversary: “75 years of BUWOG represent a strong tradition in residential construction and exemplary projects that have positively influenced Vienna’s cityscape and the lives of numerous Viennese residents. Creating new residential space and developing liveable neighbourhoods are central tasks of our time. An expanding city, particularly one such as Vienna, needs dependable partners with long-term perspectives. I congratulate BUWOG on its anniversary and wish it continued success in building premium housing for the generations of the future.”

Tradition, experience and ambitious plans

BUWOG has been one of the leading players on the Austrian housing market for 75 years. What began as a response to the postwar housing shortage is today a full-service provider with a formidable position in project development, property management, sales, and housing-related services along the entire value chain in the residential real estate sector.

Daniel Riedl, member of the management board of Vonovia SE responsible for BUWOG operations in Austria, on the anniversary and plans for the future: “75 years of BUWOG is a major milestone. All of these years have been shaped by changes and challenges, continued development and opportunities as well as growth and success. BUWOG is and will remain a pioneer in matters of environment, resource conservation and climate friendliness, for the issues of tomorrow must never lose in significance.”

With approximately 36,800 rental units in its own portfolio and the management of a total of around 55,000 units, BUWOG has a solid foundation in its existing holdings. At the same time, the company places an unequivocal emphasis on project development: construction of approximately 1,500 residential units will begin in Austria in 2026, with around 450 apartments to be completed this year. In doing so, BUWOG is actively helping to ease the strain on a structurally tight housing market.

Change in management & new allocation of responsibilities

With Daniel Riedl’s departure from the management board of Vonovia SE on 31 May 2026, he will also relinquish his position at BUWOG, which he has led and supported in diverse roles for over 21 years, to pursue new professional challenges.

As chief digital officer (CDO) of Vonovia, he was most recently responsible for BUWOG development in Germany and all BUWOG operations in Austria. The latter will now be divided between his successor, Katja Wünschel, and Vonovia CFO Philip Grosse: while Katja Wünschel, as the new CDO, will be responsible for project development, Philip Grosse will assume responsibility for real estate management, including BUWOG’s portfolio in Austria.

Both made sure to attend BUWOG’s anniversary celebration: “BUWOG’s history is extremely impressive and unparalleled in the German-speaking real estate market. It combines tradition with modernity and boasts a team that impressively demonstrates its expertise in every area of construction and housing on a daily basis. Vonovia benefits enormously from this in its development activity, and I am extremely delighted to be shaping the future of sustainable and innovative living spaces together,” says Katja Wünschel.

Philip Grosse adds: “75 years of experience represent a solid foundation and deeply rooted knowledge of the market in Austria. I am very much looking forward to further intensifying cooperation with my colleagues on site and taking consistent advantage of synergies in order to optimally integrate our expertise in portfolio management. Together, we will create sustainable added value for our real estate portfolio and our clients.”