43-year-old Tohver has 25 years of experience in management, team building, strategic planning, product development, sales and sponsorship - mainly in the fields of culture and sports. In addition, he is an international football referee who has refereed over 450 Estonian Champions League games and 150 UEFA and FIFA matches.
According to EOK president Kersti Kaljulaid, Tohver has unique experience in Estonia in all three important target groups that the Estonian Olympic Committee works with.
"As a long-time football referee, he is familiar with the Estonian sports system and sports bureaucracy. As a sports entrepreneur, he is familiar with the private sector and speaks the same language as our potential sponsors. He is also no stranger to submitting financial requests, budgets and reports as a former head of PÖFF. I believe that we have found a good successor to Siim Sukles!" said Kaljulaid.
According to Tohver, he applied for the EOK secretary general to contribute to sports life and society in general.
"Sport in its entire broad spectrum has given me a lot in life. I feel that I want to give something back and I have the necessary experience, skills and energy for that," he said. "Children's and youth sports, exercise, elite sports and their fans can positively influence society, from education, healthcare and national defense to economic indicators. Being a part of the Estonian Olympic Committee team, I desire to join the Estonian sports community to give momentum to the sports life, give meaning to it, shape it into exciting stories and involve all the necessary tools, actors and knowledge for this," continued Tohver.
Tohver takes his place as the secretary general of the Estonian Olympic Committee on November 4. Until now, the acting general secretary is EOK sports director Martti Raju.
Kristo Tohver appointed as the new secretary general of EOK
Kristo Tohver will be the new secretary general of the Estonian Olympic Committee with the unanimous decision of the Executive Board.