When the World Equestrian Festival, the CHIO Aachen, opens its gates in Soers on June 25, 2027, for the first time in 30 years, it will not be Michael Mronz who will be leading the show. Because on March 31, 2027, Michael Mronz will step down as managing director and shareholder of the Aachen Equestrian Tournament GmbH (ART). For 30 years, since 1997, he has been shaping the marketing of the CHIO Aachen, so to speak, being the Mr. CHIO. Together with the team of the ART and the Aachen-Laurensberger Rennverein (ALRV), as well as long-standing partners, he has contributed to positioning the tournament as one of the most famous and important events in international equestrian sports. Now, for him personally, the time has come to pass the reins on to someone else after this successful and eventful period.
Three decades, more than 30 international events and many special moments: In Aachen’s Soers, Michael Mronz has experienced and participated in many things. Among the highlights are not only the annual CHIO Aachen, but also two world championships – the World Equestrian Games 2006 and the FEI World Championships Aachen 2026 – as well as the FEI European Championships 2015. For his contribution as a member and spokesperson of the organizing committee of the World Equestrian Games 2006, the magazine Horizont Sportbusiness named him „Sports Manager of the Year 2006“ in the same year.
At CHIO Aachen, Michael Mronz, who celebrates his 60th birthday on March 1st, was not only concerned with organizing a high-quality event. He also further developed the staging and marketing of the tournament – and in the process, created connections with personalities and topics from business, politics, and entertainment. Many ideas that emerged during his time have also left their mark at other international equestrian events. For his contributions to equestrian sports, Michael Mronz received the German Equestrian Cross in Gold from Pferdesport Deutschland as part of the FEI World Championships 2026 – the highest award in German equestrian sports.
„A special place in my heart“
Mronz describes the move as a conscious and prepared decision: „Together with a great team and thanks to the years of support from our reliable partners, we managed to successfully shape the CHIO Aachen brand. With 30 years in office, including two World Championships and one European Championship, the time has now come for me to pass the baton on. I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to all my colleagues over the years and I wish the entire team of ART and the ALRV continued success on their further path. Aachen will of course always hold a special place in my heart.“ Already last year, Michael Mronz, together with ALRV President Stefanie Peters, held talks about the medium- and long-term future of the company. The decision that it would end next year was made by Mronz this summer.
Stefanie Peters, President of the ALRV: „Michael Mronz deserves great respect for this decision and for his many merits for our sport. The CHIO Aachen would not be where it is today without him. We owe him a great deal and wish him all the best for his future endeavors.“
The future of the CHIO Aachen is also well-positioned. Michael Mronz is handing over the organization of the event with a very well-prepared team: important contracts with sponsors and partners have been extended in advance for the medium and long term, which provides the tournament with a reliable foundation for the years to come.
Succession already resolved
The succession of Mronz at Aachener Reitturnier GmbH has already been resolved. Philip Erbers, who currently serves as a board member of the ALRV, will become the new managing director of ART in the future. Erbers worked at ART from 2015 to 2021 before becoming a board member of the ALRV in 2022.