Franz Reindl came from behind to narrowly beat Petr Briza of the Czech Republic in a run-off vote to become the International Ice Hockey Federation's new president on Friday.

Reindl had trailed Briza 48-36 in the first round of voting but picked up crucial votes after Aivaz Omorkanov of Kyrgyzstan was eliminated. He then beat Briza 60-57 in the runoff held on the Spanish island of Tenerife. Six of a total of nine candidates had withdrawn prior to the election.

The 71-year-old German, who had been a member of the IIHF Council since 2016, succeeds Canadian-born Frenchman Luc Tardif, who had announced in March that he would not seek a further term in office. Reindl's election comes 5 years after he had finished as runner-up to Tardif. His term runs until 2030. 

Reindl has done it all in German ice hockey, having been a player and coach, as well as serving as the first CEO of the top-flight professional league, the Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL), from 1994 to 19