• On August 1, Marius Berlemann (photo, left) took over as the new Managing Director for Operations.
• The personnel change is accompanied by a restructuring of management responsibilities.
• boot and drupa: Messe Düsseldorf flagship events change managing directors

August, 6, 2024. In his 30 years at Messe Düsseldorf, Erhard Wienkamp (photo, right) has made a significant contribution to the company’s current level of internationality and to the size of its leading global trade shows K, interpack and ProWein. On July 31, he retired as Messe Düsseldorf’s operative managing director.

As of August 1, the 66-year-old was succeeded in his function as operative managing director by Marius Berlemann. Having worked at Messe Düsseldorf for 13 years, the 38-year-old Berlemann most recently served as General Manager of Messe Düsseldorf Shanghai and Managing Director of Messe Düsseldorf China.

Erhard Wienkamp looks back on his time at Messe Düsseldorf with pride and gratitude: “It’s been an honor to be part of such a dynamic and dedicated team, one that has always strived to set the highest standards in the trade show industry. I’m confident that my successor, with his extensive experience and commitment, will continue to propel Messe Düsseldorf forward. I wish him and the entire team nothing but success for the future.”

Changes in operations

From now on, Messe Düsseldorf’s leisure trade shows will be consolidated under the leadership of the operative management. To that end, the responsibility for boot, the world’s largest watersports show, will shift from President & CEO Wolfram N. Diener to Marius Berlemann. The new Managing Director for Operations will also be in charge of CARAVAN SALON Düsseldorf, the leading international trade show for mobile travel.

In turn, drupa, the global No. 1 trade show for printing technologies, will no longer be a part of operative management, instead moving to Wolfram N. Diener, who’s already in charge of many of Messe Düsseldorf’s industrial trade shows: the leading global trade shows for the wire and tube industries, wire und Tube; the international valve trade show, VALVE WORLD EXPO; the world’s largest packing trade show, interpack; the world’s leading trade shows for the metallurgy and foundry industries, GIFA, METEC, THERMPROCESS and NEWCAST; and numerous other trade shows of the portfolios around the world. One recent addition is XPONENTIAL, the world’s leading trade show for uncrewed systems and robotics in the U.S., which in February 2025 will for the first time host a European spinoff event in Düsseldorf: XPONENTIAL Europe.

Strengthening operations creates competitive advantages

Wolfram N. Diener empathizes the advantages of the reshuffled responsibilities: “Our trade fair portfolios are now organized in such a way to foster the best possible synergies in the coming years. That’s how we’ll reinforce the leading position of our trade shows in Düsseldorf and worldwide – while further driving their growth.”

Besides boot and CARAVAN SALON, Marius Berlemann will be in charge of the world’s leading trade show for plastics and rubber, K; the leading international trade shows for medical devices and healthcare, MEDICA and COMPAMED; the leading trade show for rehabilitation, prevention, integration and care, REHACARE; the global No. 1 trade show for Wines and Spirits, ProWein; the world’s largest retail trade show, EuroShop; the leading trade show for retail technology, EuroCIS; the world’s leading trade show for the glass industry, glasstec; the leading global trade show for occupational safety and health, A+A; the international cosmetics and wellness trade show, BEAUTY DÜSSELDORF; and the international trade show for hairdressers, TOP HAIR; plus a number of international trade shows in the respective portfolios.

Marius Berlemann is committed to an active future: “In my role as Managing Director for Operations, my focus will be on continuously boosting the position of our world-leading trade shows here in Düsseldorf to further reinforce our home base. This includes strengthening our foreign business in order to bring even more international trade show guests to Düsseldorf.”

Bernhard J. Stempfle, Managing Director Finance and Infrastructure, will continue to be responsible for Finance, Digital Strategy & Communication and Technology. Credits: Messe Düsseldorf /Andreas Wiese

Exhibition center investments as the basis for business success

While the operative business has been reorganized, Bernhard J. Stempfle, Managing Director Finance and Infrastructure, will continue to be in charge of the entire finance department as well as of the Digital Strategy & Communication division and the Technology division. “As we aim to provide the best foundation for the commercial success of our industries, we’re not only continuously evolving our digital services, we’re also expanding investments in our state-of-the-art, highly functional exhibition center in Düsseldorf. This is how we’ll create the best return on investment for our customers,” says Stempfle.

Consisting of Wolfram N. Diener, Marius Berlemann and Bernhard J. Stempfle, Messe Düsseldorf’s management is optimally positioned to work side by side with the entire workforce to elevate the company’s competitive edge.

Messe Düsseldorf is among the most successful trade fair companies worldwide. It hosts around 40 trade fairs including 20 leading international trade fairs at its 613,000 m² exhibition center. In the 18 halls the international market leaders and top decision-makers of various sectors get together every year in order to present and discover innovations, to exchange and network. The sectors of expertise of Messe Düsseldorf include: “Machinery, Plants and Equipment” including metallurgy and foundry technologies (inter alia drupa, K, interpack, glasstec, wire and Tube); “Retail, Trades and Services” (EuroShop, EuroCIS, ProWein); “Health and Medical Technology” (MEDICA, COMPAMED, REHACARE, A+A); “Lifestyle and Beauty” (BEAUTY, TOP HAIR); “Leisure” (boot, CARAVAN SALON) as well as "Mobility" (XPONENTIAL, Flotte!). Add to this numerous conventions, corporate events, conferences and meetings by its subsidiary Düsseldorf Congress. Abroad, Messe Düsseldorf organizes more than 70 events. The global network of the group of companies encompasses 77 foreign representatives for 142 countries – including 7 international subsidiaries.

Source: Messe Düsseldorf