Bach defeated the only other candidate, Italy's Mario Pescante, 67 to 34.
Pescante, who has been a key player in the last year of preparation for the Turin Olympics and is president of the European Olympic Committees, had been perceived as a favourite in the election.
Pescante was successful, however, in seeking one of the two regular seats open on the Executive Board reports aroundtherings.com
The changes mean no U.S. representative will serve on the IOC's ruling body, the first time since 2000.
