The International Olympic Committee on Friday elected German member Thomas Bach as its vice president during the 118th Session held before the start of the Turin Olympics.
Bach who had previously held the post from 2000 until 2004, replaces American James Easton whose term ended.
Easton failed to get elected on the IOC's executive board a short time later despite fellow American member Anita DeFrantz's withdrawal to boost his chances.
This left the United States, the nation with the most influential National Olympic Committee, without an executive board seat.
IOC members at the 118th Session also voted in five new members, including Francesco Ricci Bitti, International Tennis Federation chief, and Hein Verbruggen, executive vice-president of the International Cycling Union.
Italian government official Mario Pescante and South African Sam Ramsamy were elected to the executive board.