Axel Springer Appoints Ex-Avito CEO to Lead AVIV Group as Ait Voncke Departs

Axel Springer has appointed Vladimir Pravdivy, former CEO at Avito, as the new head of AVIV Group.

Pravdivy replaces the outgoing Ait Voncke, who publicised his departure earlier this week.

Pravdivy will officially take charge of AVIV Group—including real estate marketplaces Groupe SeLoger in France, ImmoWelt Group in Germany and ImmoWeb in Belgium—in March.

Pravdivy's most notable experience is as the boss of Avito, a leading generalised marketplace in Russia across horizontals including automotive and real estate. Starting as CFO in 2014, Pravdivy was promoted to CEO in 2016 before leaving the business in 2023. Now he is stepping back into the fold.

His LinkedIn profile says it best; during his tenure at Avito, Pravdivy oversaw "a 30-fold increase in revenues and profits, reaching $1.4 billion and $0.56 billion, respectively, and became the global leader in audience reach and the winner over the vertical players."

Pravdivy commented:

"I’m honored to join this talented team and continue building on the strong foundation that has been laid. I look forward to working together to drive the next phase of growth. AVIV’s mission—unlocking everyone’s perfect place—deeply resonates with me. The opportunity ahead is vast, and I’m here for the long run—committed to delivering value where it matters most—our customers, partners, and shareholders."

Voncke announced his departure from Aviv earlier this week, also name-dropping Pravidy in a post on his LinkedIn page.

Voncke commented:

"After an incredible four-year journey, I’ve decided to step down as CEO of AVIV Group and pursue new ventures.

AVIV is in a great position for the next phase, and I believe this is the right time for me to pass the baton. I wish all the best to my successor, Vladimir Pravdivy, who I have the utmost trust will lead AVIV to continued success and growth in the future."

Axel Springer agreed to split its classifieds and media businesses in a €10 billion deal late last year. The split is expected to close this year and Axel Springer will remain a minor stakeholder in the classifieds business.