In a leadership shuffle, EBAA director general Holger Krahmer and COO Robert Baltus have resigned, with Stefan Benz appointed as its interim managing director.
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The two top leaders at the European Business Aviation Association (EBAA) have announced their departures in what the group called “a series of leadership changes as part of a broader organizational reform initiative aimed at enhancing the association’s effectiveness, responsiveness, and value.” Effective immediately, Holger Krahmer has stepped down from his role as secretary general, while COO Robert Baltus resigned last month to go to Zeusch Aviation but is staying on at EBAA to support the transition. Former Jet Aviation and Luxaviation executive Stefan Benz has been appointed as EBAA interim managing director, effective today.
This move comes just days before EBAA’s planned June 30 announcement about where its annual EBACE show will be held next year. Last month at EBACE, it said the event would be held either in late May or early June 2026, depending on the selected location, and listed eight potential European cities. An EBAA spokesman told AIN today that there will be a forthcoming announcement on Monday, but did not specify whether or not this will address the future of the EBACE event.
Meanwhile, Benz “will lead an organizational change program…[that] will bring a leaner, more agile association closer to its members’ and its national associations’ partners,” EBAA said. “This is necessary during a period where several existential threats are emerging in regulation, resource availability, environmental policy, taxation, and access to airspace and airports.”
According to EBAA, Benz’s priorities are to create a stronger association attuned to the challenges of its members; enhance its value proposition to protect the members’ ability to operate business aircraft throughout Europe, foster collaboration, and drive impactful initiatives; implement a new membership fee structure in January; and ensure that EBACE remains “Europe’s premier business aviation event.”
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EBAA Exec Shakeup Comes on Cusp of EBACE 2026 Decision
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The two top leaders at the European Business Aviation Association (EBAA) today announced their departures in what the group called “a series of leadership changes as part of a broader organizational reform initiative aimed at enhancing the association’s effectiveness, responsiveness, and value.” Effective immediately, Holger Krahmer has stepped down from his role as secretary general, while COO Robert Baltus has resigned and will leave EBAA later this year, the association said. Former Jet Aviation and Luxaviation executive Stefan Benz has been appointed as EBAA interim managing director.
This move comes just days before EBAA’s planned June 30 announcement about where its annual EBACE show will be held next year. An EBAA spokesman told AIN that there will be a forthcoming announcement on Monday, but did not specify whether or not this will address the future of the EBACE event.
Meanwhile, Benz “will lead an organizational change program…[that] will bring a leaner, more agile association closer to its members’ and its national associations’ partners,” EBAA said. “This is necessary during a period where several existential threats are emerging in regulation, resource availability, environmental policy, taxation, and access to airspace and airports.”
According to EBAA, Benz’s priorities are to create a stronger association attuned to the challenges of its members; enhance its value proposition; implement a new membership fee structure in January; and ensure that EBACE remains “Europe’s premier business aviation event.”