1. Early life and career
Hans Jörg Schelling's professional life began with significant entrepreneurial success before he entered the political arena.
1.1. Birth and background
Born on 27 December 1953, Hans Jörg Schelling hails from Vorarlberg, a federal state in western Austria. Prior to his political career, he established himself as a successful management consultant.
1.2. Entrepreneurial activities
Schelling amassed considerable wealth as a millionaire management consultant by successfully establishing and developing two distinct home-furnishing chains. Through his efforts, these businesses became market leaders in their sector, forming the foundation of his personal fortune before he embarked on his political journey.
2. Political career
During his tenure as the Minister of Finance for Austria, Hans Jörg Schelling played a pivotal role in managing significant domestic financial challenges and engaging in crucial international and European Union financial initiatives.
2.1. Minister of Finance
As the Minister of Finance, Schelling was tasked with managing the complex aftermath of the 2008 global financial crisis. In 2016, he oversaw the closure of FIMBAG, an agency that had been established in 2008 specifically to supervise state aid granted to troubled financial institutions during the crisis. He was also instrumental in successfully promoting legislation that facilitated settlements with the creditors of the now-defunct Hypo Alpe Adria Bank, effectively removing a significant financial burden from Austria's public finances. These actions were crucial in stabilizing the country's economic landscape following a period of significant upheaval.
2.2. International and EU engagement
Schelling's political career also involved substantial engagement on the international and European Union stages. In 2015, under his leadership, Austria requested France to provide tax data related to leaked client information from HSBC. This request was made after HSBC admitted to compliance failures at its Swiss private bank, underscoring Schelling's commitment to financial transparency. He also provided support for the state-owned utility OMV in its negotiations for an asset swap with Gazprom. In 2016, he participated in a ceremony where OMV agreed to exchange a stake in its Norwegian operations for a share in Gazprom's Achimov oil and gas exploration blocks; however, this deal was later abandoned due to opposition from Norway. From 2015, Schelling chaired a group of EU Member States that advocated for the adoption of a common tax on financial transactions, a policy aimed at increasing revenue and curbing speculative trading.
3. Post-political activities
After concluding his political service, Hans Jörg Schelling embarked on a variety of new roles within both the private and public sectors, often intersecting with financial governance and advisory capacities.
3.1. Corporate and advisory roles
Following his departure from ministerial office, Schelling was nominated in 2019 to serve as a member of the supervisory board at OMV, an Austrian integrated oil and gas company. However, this nomination was subsequently withdrawn due to a potential breach of the Austrian government's "cooling-off period" regulations for former ministers, which are designed to prevent conflicts of interest. Since 2018, Schelling has served as an advisor for Nord Stream 2, a controversial gas pipeline project. Earlier in his career, from 2012 to 2014, he also held the position of Chairman of the Supervisory Board at Österreichische Volksbanken-Aktiengesellschaft (ÖVAG).
3.2. Regulatory and non-profit engagements
Schelling has maintained an active presence in various international financial institutions and non-profit organizations. From 2015 to 2017, he served as an Ex-Officio Member of the Board of Governors for several prominent organizations including the African Development Bank (AfDB), the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), the European Investment Bank (EIB), the Inter-American Investment Corporation (IIC), the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA) of the World Bank Group, and the World Bank itself. Additionally, from 2014 to 2017, he was a Member of the Board of Governors for the European Stability Mechanism (ESM). Prior to these international roles, from 2009 to 2014, he chaired the board of the Federation of Social Insurance Providers, an important non-profit organization within Austria's social welfare system.
4. Personal life
Hans Jörg Schelling is married and has two daughters. Outside of his professional and political commitments, he is known for his passion for collecting modern art. He also enjoys spending time at and operating Stiftsweingut Herzogenburg, a vineyard located in Lower Austria, which is his adopted province.