Hans Peter Manz (1955-2024)

Center Austria is saddened to learn of the passing of Ambassador Hans Peter Manz, diplomat and friend.

On January 20, 2015, Austrian Ambassador to the United States Dr. Hans Peter Manz (center, with scissors) and Austrian Marshall Plan Foundation Vice President Dr. Anton Fink participated in the grand opening of the University of New Orleans' (UNO) brand new International Center, which houses all of UNO's international programs and services, including Center Austria

Obituary for Ambassador Hans Peter Manz

Born into a diplomatic family in 1955, Hans Peter Manz started his career as a member of the Austrian Embassy in Berne, Switzerland, to be followed by an assignment at the Austrian Embassy in Teheran. Back in Vienna, he served in the Department of Eastern Europe in the Ministry for Foreign Affairs. From 1991 to 1994 he was Deputy Chief of Mission at the Austrian Embassy in Berne and from 1994 to 1999 Deputy Chief of Mission at the Austrian UN-Mission in New York. In 2000 Chancellor Schüssel offered him the position of Foreign Policy Advisor that he held for 7 challenging years that started with a diplomatic boycott of Austria by her EU-partners for building a coalition between Schüssel’s Conservative Party with the right-wing “Freedom Party”. In 2007 he was appointed Austrian Ambassador to Switzerland (2007-11). He then served as Austrian Ambassador to Washington D.C. from 2011 to 2015. At his return to Vienna he was nominated Inspector General of the Ministry, a post that he relinquished with retirement.

Having attended the same school in Vienna (Theresianum), we had known each other long time before he joined the Austrian Foreign Ministry. Who would have thought at that time that he would become my immediate successor in Washington! Hans Peter, personally very reserved, almost an introvert, was one of the brightest analysts in the Austrian Diplomatic Service. With friends, he could be very outspoken and witty and was a brilliant example of Austrians’ disillusioned view of life and of the world, being at the same time hands on, an extremely lucid and fast worker, smart in his decisions, and absolutely loyal to Austria. On January 1, 2024, Hans Peter passed away after years of fighting with cancer.

Hans Peter, it was an honor and always a pleasure to meet you and to work with you. We will miss you!

Christian Prosl, Ambassador (ret.)