VIR Executive Board Election 2025

Munich, December 11, 2025 – At its annual general meeting on Tuesday, December 9, 2025, the Association of Internet Travel Distribution (VIR) looked back on an eventful 2025. A central part of the meeting was the VIR’s biennial executive board elections, in which cluster members elect their chairs and vice chairs.

For the Online Travel Agencies cluster, members re-elected Solveig Mayer, Senior Director of Government & Corporate Affairs at Expedia Group, to serve as chair. Maria Pietroniro, Director of Tourism & Touristic Performance at HolidayCheck, was newly elected and will serve as vice chair going forward. Following the election, she emphasized: “I am grateful for the trust placed in me and look forward to actively shaping the association’s future development alongside such dedicated colleagues.”

Jörg Hauschild, COO of the Midoco Group, was re-elected this year as chairman of the Service & Travel Technology Cluster. Jörg Hauschild agrees with Maria Pietroniro’s statement and adds that he intends to continue contributing to the association’s success. Lars Seinschedt, managing partner of neusta GmbH, also remains in office as vice chairman, continuing his collaboration with Jörg Hauschild within the cluster. “I would like to thank everyone for the great collaboration over the past two years and look forward to actively shaping exciting projects with the members of the VIR again over the next two years.”

There have been changes, however, in the Tour Operator & Supplier cluster. Lara Ochsenfeld, Business Development Manager for Travel and Financial Institutions at Europ Assistance Services GmbH, will take over as chair. Tanja Jäger, Key Account Manager for Online & International at HanseMerkur Reiseversicherung AG, was newly elected as vice chair. She expressed her delight at her new role within the association: “Thank you for the trust placed in me in electing me as Vice Chair of the TO & Supplier Cluster. I am very pleased to serve in this capacity alongside Lara Ochsenfeld, and I am eager to see what tasks lie ahead. I look forward to a constructive, successful collaboration and many shared successes!”

VIR Board Member Michael Buller is optimistic about the coming year following the elections: “We look forward to continuing to work together with our members. Many thanks to the outgoing members of the Executive Committee who have supported us in our work over the past two years,” he said. “This year’s elections reflect the great trust our members have in the cluster’s leadership. Together, we will continue to drive important initiatives in 2026.”

The VIR Executive Committee not only advises the Board on strategic matters but also provides operational support for the association’s work, serves as a voice for VIR members, decides on the admission of new members, and fosters dialogue within the industry. With this year’s election, the association is well-positioned to continue representing the digital travel industry effectively and with a united front in the coming year.

The press release is available for download here in PDF format.