EGBA: Pierre Tournier takes the helm
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1 Sep 2026 •
Reading time: 4 minutes
The EGBA is changing leadership. With effect from 1 September 2026, Pierre Tournier will become interim Secretary-General of the Brussels-based organisation. He succeeds Maarten Haijer, who is stepping down after thirteen years at the helm of the association and nearly two decades with the organisation.
Pierre Tournier takes the helm at the EGBA
Announced on 27 August 2026, Pierre Tournier’s appointment as interim Secretary General of the European Gaming and Betting Association takes effect on 1 September.
This transition comes at a time that the new leader himself describes as crucial. The European online gambling sector continues to evolve in regulatory terms, whilst the EGBA regards the growth of the illegal market as a major threat to players and regulated operators.
However, Pierre Tournier is no stranger to either the association or the issues awaiting him. He previously held the position of Senior Director at the EGBA, which he joined in November 2025.
Since taking up his post, he has led several strategic initiatives. These include coordination with national and international trade associations, as well as the EGBA’s work in tackling the growth of illegal online gambling in Europe.
The illegal market at the top of the agenda
“The European regulatory landscape is changing rapidly, and the growth of the illegal market remains the greatest threat to both players and the regulated sector,” said the new acting Secretary-General upon the announcement of his appointment.
He also intends to pursue the other objectives championed by the EGBA: strengthening industry standards, promoting good regulatory practices and participating in the debates set to shape the sector’s future.
Maarten Haijer turns the page on a chapter that began in 2008
This change is significant for the EGBA, as Maarten Haijer has not merely been its Secretary-General for several years. His professional history is closely linked to that of the association.
He joined the organisation in 2008 as Director of Regulatory Affairs, before becoming Secretary General in 2013. He will therefore have led the organisation for thirteen years and worked there for nearly two decades.
This period coincided with a profound transformation of the European online gambling market.
In his message announcing his departure, Maarten Haijer himself highlights the scale of the change that has taken place. He describes a sector that has evolved from pioneering companies to leading digital entertainment providers holding licences in numerous jurisdictions.
During his presidency, the EGBA states that it has become a key voice for the European online gambling sector. The association has strengthened its relations with European and national institutions and championed competitive markets based on multiple licensed operators, with an emphasis on safety and regulation.
Player protection at the heart of his legacy
Among the initiatives highlighted to summarise Haijer’s tenure is the creation of European Safer Gambling Week.
Organised annually by the EGBA, this event brings together various industry stakeholders to promote safer and more sustainable gambling practices
Consumer protection is indeed one of the association’s key priorities. It states that it works with national authorities, European institutions and other stakeholders to foster a regulated market capable of protecting players and channelling demand towards licensed operators.
For Maarten Haijer, however, the progress made does not mean that all problems have been resolved.
“I am leaving the association in a strong position”
The former Secretary General believes he is leaving an organisation in a strong position and ‘in very capable hands’. He says he is convinced that Pierre Tournier and his team will be able to build on the momentum established in recent years.
In a personal message published at the time of the announcement, he also thanked the members of the EGBA, its partners, his network and, in particular, his team for the years spent working alongside him.
A new chapter after thirteen years of stability
1 September 2026 thus marks a symbolic milestone for the European association.
Maarten Haijer is stepping down from a role he has held since 2013. Pierre Tournier is taking over on an interim basis less than a year after joining the EGBA, but with over fifteen years’ experience in the sector.