Reading Time: 2 minutes

Mariano Dima, ex-Visa and Vrbo/Expedia, is the new Civitatis Chairman, aiming to drive Latin American expansion for the leading guided tours and activities marketplace.

Mariano Dima has been appointed as the new Chairman of the Board of Directors at Civitatis, the premier online marketplace for guided tours and activities catering to Spanish and Portuguese-speaking customers. This strategic move aims to bolster Civitatis’ expansion in Latin America, a key focus area for the company in the upcoming years.

Dima brings over 20 years of high-level executive and board experience from prestigious companies like Visa and Vrbo/Expedia. He has also served as an advisor, chair, and board member for several fast-growing marketplaces and financial services firms.

This announcement follows a recent injection of $50 million by an international investment fund, stemming from the sale of secondary shares. This additional investment, following the fund’s initial investment in 2022, aims to reinforce Civitatis’ position as the leading brand for tours and activities across Spain and Latin America. The company already dominates the market in Mexico, Brazil, and Argentina, holding the top sales position for several years.

Founder and CEO Alberto Gutiérrez will continue to helm Civitatis. Under his leadership, the company has achieved impressive growth, averaging a 50% annual increase, while maintaining robust profitability.

Expressing his enthusiasm about Dima’s appointment, Gutiérrez stated, “We are excited to welcome Mariano as the new Chairman of Civitatis. I am confident that he is the perfect fit to elevate Civitatis further, enabling us to tap into the vast potential of the Spanish and Portuguese-speaking markets and the tours and activities sector. A significant portion of the market remains offline, but our innovative technology platform is rapidly changing that landscape.”

Dima succeeds Sophie Bower-Straziota, a Vitruvian partner for over a decade, who has served as Civitatis’ chairman since June 2022, when Vitruvian Partners first invested in the company. Bower-Straziota will continue to serve on the board of directors.

Based in Madrid, Civitatis offers over 90,000 activities in 160 countries, with more than 10 million customers in 2023. Vitruvian Partners recognizes the vast and growing potential of Civitatis’ target market, which includes approximately 750 million Spanish and Portuguese speakers worldwide.