New management at the IMZ

IMZ Director Katharina Jeschke was unanimously voted the new Secretary General on 14 February 2017 by both IMZ Board and member assembly at Avant Première Music + Media Market Berlin 2017.

‘A new era for the IMZ’

‘We are proud and confident seeing the IMZ start a new era’, comments IMZ President Arild Erikstad. ‘With a strong sense for the pulse of time and outstanding management skills, Katharina Jeschke is the perfect leader. It is time for a new generation to take over’, says the parting Secretary General Franz Patay about his successor.


About Katharina Jeschke

With a career as a media and communication professional at major cultural events around Austria, Katharina Jeschke joined the IMZ in 2009 and shared Directorship with Ruth Pfletschinger shortly after. In this position she was responsible for a substantial growth and successful implementation of Avant Première Music + Media Market Berlin, the largest international trade show for the performing arts TV industry, as a new and noticeable landmark in the Berlin media cluster. The Avant Première Screenings with 30 years in tradition at midem in Cannes, today arise as main programme embedded in a coproduction market with promotion and networking formats strongly requested by a wide international B2B-audience.

Along with a new branding and communication strategy, Jeschke achieved a stronger international visibility for the IMZ and provided a new recognition for the institution with 55 years in existence and 1.000 members worldwide.

Herself a music enthusiast and violin player, the cultural manager holds a degree in international business administration and has successfully promoted the big celebration festivals ‘Wiener Mozart Year 2006’ and ‘Haydn Year 2009’, as media spokeswoman.



‘I strongly support the IMZ’s mission to closely link the world’s performing art stages with the media industries, in order to preserve them as a cultural heritage. Therefore I look forward to working on this goal with our longstanding partners, as well as on the fundament of new collaborations.’
IMZ Secretary General Katharina Jeschke


A new generation, a new agenda

Representing a business platform for networking, coproduction and sales for the performing arts and media industry, the new leadership will further extend and improve member’s benefits. News services will consider the specific needs of the sector and enlarge the IMZ’s information resources and databases.

Focus is also set on the extension of the IMZ’s programmes in young talent promotion. New international partnerships for the renowned IMZ Academies as well professionalisation and marketing tools are in development.

Former IMZ Secretary General Franz Patay took his position as Managing Director of the Vereinigte Bühnen Wien (VBW) in autumn 2016, managing the affairs of four major Viennese stages like the opera house Theater an der Wien, Kammeroper, Ronacher and Raimund Theater. Passing on the torch, he remains holding the position of the IMZ’s Legal Counsel.


Press contact

Sandra Wobrazek
s.wobrazek@imz.at
+43 1 889 03 15 20
IMZ International Music + Media Centre
Stiftgasse 29
1070 Vienna
Austria
www.imz.at