Vintner becomes Raiffeisen general counsel

Erwin Tinhof, a 64-year-old vintner from Trausdorf, has become general counsel of Raiffeisen Austria while continuing to run his winery, ORF reported. He was appointed in June and represents the Raiffeisen association, which has around 1.8 million members.

Tinhof farms 15 hectares of vines, growing Blaufränkisch, St. Laurent, Neuburger and Pinot Blanc. In his new role, he is responsible for areas including agriculture, storage facilities, dairies, vintners’ cooperatives and energy cooperatives.

He said he had not personally sought the position, but people from other federal states believed he could perform the role. Tinhof has served for many years on various Raiffeisen association committees. In Burgenland, he is also chairman of the supervisory board of Raiffeisenlandesbank.

Tinhof will divide his time between his vineyard in Trausdorf, in the Eisenstadt-Umgebung district, and the Raiffeisen building on Vienna’s Danube Canal. From an office on the 19th floor, he represents the association together with Secretary General Johannes Rehulka. The organisation comprises more than 1,700 cooperatives and around 1.8 million members.

Tinhof rejected the idea that his new role should involve influencing domestic politics. He said that while others might view Raiffeisen as politically powerful and influential within the Austrian People’s Party, he did not see it that way personally.

Tinhof studied agriculture at the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences in Vienna and has two children. He plans to remain a vintner, describing winegrowing as his life. He will work for the Raiffeisen association two days a week. His winery has several year-round employees, including his nephew, who is the cellar master, and he said the business was well positioned to continue operating.