Axel Springer : @Leisure Group strengthens its leadership team

The @Leisure Group, one of the largest players in the European online market for accommodation rentals, is pleased to announce the appointment of Bodo Thielmann as Chief Financial & Investment Officer (CFIO) and the appointment of Carl Shepherd as a new member of the board.

Bodo Thielmann has served on the board of @Leisure since January 2015 when Axel Springer, the leading digital publisher in Europe, took a majority stake in the company. For the last ten years with Axel Springer he helped to build up the digital portfolio of this group, where he most recently was Head of New Investments of the Marketing & Classifieds Division. Going forward within @Leisure he will oversee the finance department as well as the shareholdings of the group and facilitate the future growth. With the appointment of Thielmann as CFIO he will step down from the company's Board of Directors.

Carl Shepherd brings over ten years of experience in the vacation rental market to @Leisure. A co-founder of HomeAway Inc., he served on the company's Board of Directors and as Chief Strategy and Development Officer was the architect of the company's acquisition-focused strategy and acquiring twenty-three companies in nine countries over ten years. HomeAway was acquired by Expedia in 2015. Prior to this, Carl Shepherd served as the COO of Hoover's Online. Under his management, the business developed into a leading source for business information online, culminating in an IPO in 1999 and the eventual sale of the company to Dun & Bradstreet in March 2003.

Andreas Wiele, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the @Leisure Group and President Marketing and Classified Ad Models, Axel Springer SE, says: 'The extended leadership team provides the perfect set-up for @Leisure's future. Carl Shepherd brings unmatched industry experience and expertise to @Leisure and Bodo the drive and know-how to further structure and boost the growth of our business.'

Tobias Wann, CEO @Leisure Group, says: 'I am delighted to welcome Bodo to the @Leisure Group´s Executive team. We have been working together already in his previous role and I am convinced that Bodo will be of great value to our organization. Also with Carl Shepherd I share many years of successful work at HomeAway and I am excited to have his council as we continue to build a dynamic future for @Leisure.'

About @Leisure Group

The @Leisure Group, headquartered in Amsterdam, is one of the largest players in the European online market for accommodation rentals, such as holiday homes, holiday parks and hotels. The organization offers more than 470,000 holiday properties in 36 countries, of which approximately 22,000 are under direct contract of Belvilla, 10,000 by DanCenter and Danland and more than 60,000 by Traum-Ferienwohnungen. @Leisure also offers holiday homes, holiday parks and hotels on behalf of other reputable rental organizations and private owners. New properties are continually added to the portfolio. More than 1.3 million holidaymakers from over 140 countries book their holiday every year with @Leisure.

For more information, please visit: http://en.leisure-group.eu