Infront Group Employ Stefan Krauss as New Managing Director of Austria Branch

Infront Sports & Media has appointed Stefan Krauss as the new Managing Director of its Infront Austria, thereby strengthening its international management team winter sports.

Stefan Krauss will take up his new position on 1 January 2012. Following the full integration of Infront Austria into the Infront Group, current Managing Director Dr Stefan Seykora has taken the decision to pass over full operational duties from 30 June 2012 due to personal reasons. He will then join the company’s Advisory Board. This will ensure continuity of experience and maintain the company’s excellent relationships with its key clients.

Stefan Krauss holds almost 30 years of experience in winter sports, as athlete, coach, official and marketing expert. He joins Infront from the German Ski Federation (DSV) where he has been involved as Managing Director of DSV Marketing GmbH since May 2008. Previously, the former professional ski athlete worked for nine years as General Secretary and Sport Director for the Bobsleigh and Luge Federation of Germany (BSD).

In a parallel role since 2006, Stefan Krauss also occupied the position of Vice President Marketing for the International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation (FIBT) and has been a member ex officio for the FIBT Executive Committee since 2002. Through all his positions he has contributed significantly to the sporting and commercial success of the respective organisations and has built an extensive network within the world of winter sport.

Stefan Krauss will head an experienced team of over 20 employees and will direct all central
projects of the Vienna and Lustenau based Infront subsidiary. Properties include the marketing of the IBU World Cup and the IBU World Championships Biathlon, as part of Infront’s longstanding partnership with the International Biathlon Union. He also takes on the lead for marketing the Vierschanzentournee (Four Hills Tournament) based on the company´s partnership with the Austrian Ski Federation (ÖSV) and the DSV. As one of the centres of excellence for winter sports marketing, Infront Austria (formerly APF Marketing GmbH) is an important pillar of the Infront Group.

Bruno Marty, Infront’s Executive Director of Winter Sports, said: “In recent years, Dr Stefan Seykora has successfully and innovatively contributed to Infront Austria. Together with his long time partner and co-Managing Director Volker Schmid he significantly advanced the company´s integration into the Infront Group and has aided the continuous development of the comprehensive event and partner portfolio. We want to thank him sincerely for his commitment.”

“Stefan Krauss is a proven expert in the global winter sports circuit and an ideal successor. Thanks to his many years of marketing experience and his great passion for sport, he is a perfect fit for Infront and will significantly strengthen our international team in the development and successful implementation of our long-term winter sports strategy. We wish him a successful start in January.”

Stefan Krauss added: “I am very excited about working in such an important position for the world’s leading marketing company in winter sports. Together with the already well-established team at Infront Austria, I will continue to work with existing and new partners in a reliable and innovative way. A high quality standard in the collaboration, but also the development of great relationships will always be in focus for me.”

Dr. Stefan Seykora said: “Following the successful integration of the former APF Marketing GmbH into the Infront Group and more than 20 years of fulfilling business and expansion, it is time for me to stand down. I proudly look back over the many achievements and friendships I have gained from Infront and in the world of sport. After a well deserved break, I will take up new and exciting challenges in the coming year. I thank all colleagues, customers and partners for the great collaboration.”