On December 14, the passing of Josef Taus, former ÖVP leader and industrialist, was announced. He was 91 years old. While Taus is widely recognized for his diverse career—spanning journalism, policy research, banking, high-level politics, and industry—less well-known is his decades-long tenure as a member of the IHS Board of Trustees, where he played a key role in shaping the Institute’s development.
Taus joined IHS in January 1968, shortly after the Board resolved to bring influential figures into the Institute to strengthen its political influence and secure funding. Around the same time, Franz Ockermüller joined, ushering in a period when the directors-general of the "Girozentrale und Bank der österreichischen Sparkassen" (Taus) and the "Österreichische Länderbank" (Ockermüller) held seats on the Institute's decision-making body. This set an unwritten precedent for at least two high-ranking bankers to serve on the Board, a practice that lasted for the next four decades.
Taus remained dedicated to the IHS even after becoming the ÖVP’s leading candidate for the 1975 National Council elections. During this time, his political opponent, Bruno Kreisky, also sat on the IHS Board of Trustees, where the Chancellor served as Vice President. Despite the rivalry between Austria’s two major parties, the Board’s work proceeded harmoniously. Taus, known for fostering friendly ties with Social Democrats, was instrumental in maintaining this collaborative spirit. He stepped down from the Board in late 2015 after an extraordinary 48 years of service.
Josef Taus will be remembered for years to come—and likely much longer—for holding a remarkable distinction: the longest-serving member of the IHS Board of Trustees since its founding.
Author: Andreas Huber