Born in 1959, studied Law and Business Studies at Karl-Franz University in Graz. In 1984 Horst Pirker began as Assistant Director at the "Kleinen Zeitung" in Carinthia and in 1986 became Director. 1991 he moved as Publishing Director of newspaper publishers "Styria" to Graz and in 1995 he additionally took over management at the "Media House Carinthia". In 1997 Horst Pirker was appointed to the executive board of the “Styria Media Group AG", from 1999 to September 2010 he was chairperson of the board.