a&o Hostels, Europe's largest hostel chain by portfolio size and growth rate, has appointed Markus Harder as Chief Financial Officer, effective immediately. Harder will oversee the company's digitalisation strategy, bringing experience from scaling technology and AI-led companies across Europe.
Based in Berlin, Harder will work closely with CEO Oliver Winter and shareholders to execute a&o's expansion plans. His remit includes finance, legal, organisational development, business systems, risk management, and procurement. Harder aims to integrate cloud computing, artificial intelligence, and mobile solutions to streamline operations and improve the guest experience.
From DeepL to Hostels: A Tech-Finance Background
Harder previously served as CFO at DeepL, where he achieved tenfold growth and led two unicorn funding rounds. He also held the CFO role at Contentful and was Finance Director at SoundCloud. His career began in real estate investment banking at Morgan Stanley.
This appointment comes as a&o Hostels pursues an aggressive growth trajectory. Earlier this year, the company completed an €874 million refinancing with Apollo, backed by equity commitments from Proprium Capital Partners and StepStone Group. The funding is intended to double the size of a&o's portfolio and expand its footprint across Europe.
In 2025, a&o welcomed a record 2.8 million guests and achieved 6.6 million overnight stays. The chain currently operates 46 properties across Europe, and has also made strides in sustainability, as noted in its recent emissions reduction report.
“Markus’s depth of experience in strategic and financial planning will be invaluable as we continue scaling and optimising the platform,” said CEO Oliver Winter.
Harder expressed enthusiasm for joining a&o, highlighting the opportunity to innovate within the European budget hospitality sector. “I look forward to driving digital transformation and operational efficiency,” he said.
The appointment signals a broader trend in the hospitality industry: budget chains are increasingly turning to technology to enhance margins and guest satisfaction. For travel professionals, a&o's moves offer a case study in how scale, finance, and tech can converge in the hostel segment.
