Pierre Tournier has been appointed interim secretary general of the European Gaming and Betting Association, replacing outgoing leader Maarten Haijer.
Haijer is stepping down after 13 years as secretary general, a tenure that has significantly shaped Europe’s online gambling landscape.
He first joined the EGBA in 2008 as director of regulatory affairs before being elevated to the top role in 2013.
The EGBA credited Haijer’s leadership with helping drive the transformation of the European online gambling market across more than a decade.
Tournier, who currently serves as a senior director at the association, will formally assume the interim role from Tuesday, 1 September.
He brings more than 15 years of advocacy experience across several roles and jurisdictions in the gambling sector to the position.
Before joining the EGBA in November 2025, Tournier held roles with the Betting and Gaming Council in the UK and the Remote Gambling Association.
Since joining the association, he has led several of the group’s strategic initiatives, according to an EGBA statement.
Reflecting on his time at the helm, Haijer said: “It has been a privilege to lead EGBA and to work alongside our members, colleagues, partners, regulators and policymakers towards the common objective of a safe and sustainable online gambling sector in Europe.”
He added: “The European sector has changed almost beyond recognition during my time at EGBA – from pioneering start-ups to world-leading digital entertainment providers, with licences across the globe.”
Haijer expressed confidence in his successor, saying: “I leave the association in a strong position and in very capable hands, and I am confident Pierre and the team will build on the momentum of recent years. I will make an announcement about my future shortly.”
Tournier acknowledged the weight of the responsibility, saying: “I would like to pay tribute to Maarten for his outstanding work. He leaves behind a remarkable legacy, and his name will always be synonymous with EGBA.”
He outlined his priorities for the interim period, noting that Europe’s regulatory landscape is evolving quickly and that combatting illegal market growth would be central to the association’s work.
“These are big shoes to fill, and I am deeply honoured by the confidence both he and our members have shown in me,” Tournier said, signalling his intent to drive high industry standards and promote regulatory best practices.
