Roland Weißmann, the director of the Austrian Broadcasting Corporation (ORF), has announced his immediate resignation in response to allegations of sexual harassment. According to ORF, he decided to step down to mitigate potential damage to the organization, despite denying the allegations. The resignation follows a report to the ORF's supervisory board by an employee concerning inappropriate behavior that was said to have occurred at the beginning of his tenure as director.

Weißmann's attorney criticized the handling of the situation, stating that the supervisory board granted his client only a few days to resign, despite the fact that Weißmann had contested the accusations and that a substantive review of the claims did not take place. This reflects concerns regarding due process and the possible ramifications of preemptive actions taken against individuals in positions of authority within media organizations.

The supervisory board reportedly expressed gratitude to Weißmann for his contributions to ORF and his 30 years of service. Having joined ORF in the mid-1990s, he quickly ascended to prominent editorial positions. His resignation marks a significant moment for the organization, highlighting the intense scrutiny and accountability public figures face within the media sector, especially over issues concerning workplace conduct and sexual harassment allegations.