EGBA Leadership Change as Maarten Haijer Resigns and Pierre Tournier Assumes Interim Secretary General Role
TL;DR — Maarten Haijer resigns as EGBA Secretary General at end of August after joining in 2008. Pierre Tournier, with over 15 years gambling experience and 10 months as Senior Director, assumes interim role on 1 September. Transition centers on advancing player protection standards and confronting illegal market growth.
SCCG Take — The handover preserves EGBA momentum on harmonized rules and harm reduction. Operators and regulators should track whether Tournier sustains the same level of coordinated advocacy against unlicensed operators.
The European Gaming and Betting Association faces a leadership transition with the resignation of Maarten Haijer as Secretary General. Haijer departs at the end of August. Pierre Tournier takes over as interim Secretary General on 1 September.
Tournier joined the EGBA in November 2025 and has served as Senior Director for a 10-month period. He holds more than 15 years of experience in the gambling industry. This succession follows Haijer’s tenure that began in 2008.
Record of Achievements During the Haijer Tenure
Haijer’s time at the head of the EGBA produced several notable outcomes for regulated gambling markets in Europe. These include the development and publication of a voluntary pan-European standard on gambling harm that provides the foundation for unified player protection frameworks across member states.
He participated in policy debates on the prospects for harmonised gambling legislation at the European level. Haijer also voiced industry perspectives on shortcomings in specific jurisdictions including Germany and pushed back against political portrayals of licensed gambling solely as an additional tax source. Under his leadership the EGBA established the annual Safer Gambling Week, which has become a leading coordinated effort to build awareness of gambling-related harm.
Haijer stated: “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. We have achieved a great deal together, moving the industry forward and helping shape an environment that works far better for players as well, though important challenges remain. 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.”
Tournier Outlines Priorities for the Interim Period
Tournier has concentrated on joint efforts with national and international trade bodies to address the illegal gambling market. He paid tribute to his predecessor while accepting the interim post.
Tournier said: “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. These are big shoes to fill, and I am deeply honoured by the confidence both he and our members have shown in me. I take on the role at a pivotal moment: Europe’s regulatory landscape is evolving quickly, and the growth of the illegal market remains the biggest threat to players and to the regulated sector alike – combating it will be central to our work.”
This account is based on reporting by SBC News.
Reporting: SBC News
Generated by SCCG’s automated editorial system from published source reporting. SCCG Management holds editorial responsibility.
Continuity matters more than the nameplate — watch whether Tournier maintains EGBA's coordinated push against unlicensed operators across Europe.
Leadership changes at Brussels trade bodies shape the entire regulatory conversation. Haijer built EGBA's credibility on harmonization and harm reduction; Tournier inherits that platform but faces a tougher illegal-market problem. We're watching whether this handover preserves momentum or opens gaps that country regulators exploit to diverge.
- Haijer exits after 17 years; Tournier takes interim role 1 September with 15+ years industry experience
- Haijer legacy: pan-European harm standard, Safer Gambling Week, unified industry voice on harmonization
- Tournier priority: coordinated response to illegal market growth and regulatory fragmentation
SCCG angle: SCCG works with operators in 14 European markets and sits on policy councils in three jurisdictions. When Brussels advocacy shifts, we help clients decode the real impact on licensing timelines, compliance roadmaps, and where illegal-market enforcement actually lands. This transition matters if you're scaling or defending share.
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