The collapse of the once-largest European real estate development group SIGNA of the Austrian Rene Benko continues to reveal new layers of intrigue, financial entanglements, and power struggles. While some focus on the billions lost by high-profile investors, the investigative platform Wiener Zocker has now uncovered a particularly exclusive network that has continued to thrive in Benko’s shadow – the World Economic Council (WEC).
A Power Network in Benko’s Shadow?
The WEC (website), based in Vienna’s prestigious Goldenes Quartier, has become a focal point in the post-Signa drama. Its members, including former Oerlikon CEO and investor Thomas Limberger (LinkedIn) and Swiss-Austrian banker Robert Schimanko (LinkedIn), have recently surfaced in the orbit of Benko’s crumbling empire, raising urgent questions about their true role in this financial saga.
The WEC presents itself as an elite business forum, yet its recent activities suggest it operates as something far more influential – and far more intertwined with Rene Benko’s web of financial interests.
- Thomas Limberger (LinkedIn), a former corporate executive with a history of high-stakes transactions, sits on the WEC board and has been linked to Benko’s foundations. His involvement in Oerlikon, a transaction allegedly tied to Russian oligarch Viktor Vekselberg, was extensively discussed in the 2015 CIA report on Ronny Pecik and his Austrian financial network.
- Robert Schimanko, another WEC board member, has been described as Benko’s personal buyer at online auctions, acquiring luxury goods such as watches, cufflinks, and even a sports boat from the Signa estate. A truly loyal friend in times of crisis?
- William H. Shawn, the US lawyer now threatening Wiener Zocker with legal action on behalf of Schimanko, is also listed as an ambassador of the WEC.
- Israeli intelligence expert Moshe Buller, known for his intelligence work for Benko’s Signa Group, is also an ambassador at WEC, raising questions about the real purpose of this “business council.”
The Mar-a-Lago Connection: Just a Coincidence?
If the WEC were merely a business club, one might assume its members are simply high-powered executives networking for professional reasons. However, a LinkedIn post by Thomas Limberger shows himself, Schimanko, and Shawn together at Mar-a-Lago, Donald Trump’s exclusive Florida estate (link to post).
A private social gathering? Or part of something bigger? Given their shared interests in Benko’s financial dealings and legal defense, it’s difficult to ignore the implications.
A Deeper Relationship with Benko?
The real question is: Why are WEC figures so deeply entrenched in the post-Signa collapse?
- Limberger and Schimanko have surfaced in multiple entities tied to Benko’s foundations.
- Schimanko’s purchasing of luxury items from Benko’s failed empire suggests an ongoing personal and financial connection.
- The involvement of WEC-linked individuals in SilverArrow Group, another exclusive investment entity, further strengthens the hypothesis that this network extends beyond casual business dealings.
Could it be that the links between WEC members and Rene Benko go back much further than previously believed? Their highly coordinated presence in his financial and legal affairs suggests a deeper, long-standing relationship that may have influenced the structuring of Signa’s finances and its subsequent unraveling.
Conclusion: A Network in Need of Scrutiny
The World Economic Council, with its impressive branding and powerful members, appears to be far more than just a gathering of business leaders. Its members’ deep ties to Rene Benko, their financial maneuvers, and their legal intimidation tactics suggest an organized effort to control the narrative. The real question remains: What is the WEC really up to – and how deep does the Benko connection go?
