We live Trade Fairs.

Locally - in Düsseldorf. Around the globe. And with passion wherever we are. This is how we lead the way as a management team, drive innovations, set trends and take our co-workers along on this journey. Taking you too - into a successful future.

Wolfram N. Diener

President & CEO

About Wolfram N. Diener

Positions

since 07/2020 | President & CEO of Messe Düsseldorf GmbH

2018 – 2020 | Managing Director Operative Trade Fair Business at Messe Düsseldorf GmbH

2011 – 2018 |Member of the Management Board UBM Asia Ltd. (today Informa Markets), Hong Kong

Senior Vice President, responsible for exhibition portfolios as well as print and digital media

2005 – 2011 | Vice President Venetian Macau Ltd./Marina Bay Sands Singapore Ltd.

Operation of the Convention and Congress Centre, exhibitions and special events, hotel logistics

2001 – 2005 | Managing Director Shanghai New International Expo Centre Ltd.

(German-Chinese joint venture with the participation of Messe Düsseldorf)

1997 – 2001 | Managing Director for Asian Operations, Messe Frankfurt (H.K.) Ltd.

1992 – 1997 | Project Director Foreign Trade Fairs, Hamburg Messe- und Congress GmbH

1991 | Division Head for Catering and Events, Baden-Württemberg horticultural show, Pforzheim

Studies/Training

Pforzheim University

Date/Place of birth

1964/Freiburg i.Br.

Marius Berlemann

Chief Operating Officer

About Marius Berlemann

Positions

since 08/2024 | Managing Director for Operations, Messe Düsseldorf GmbH, Düsseldorf

2024 | Regional Head, Messe Düsseldorf for Asia, Singapur

2021 – 2024 | Managing Director, Messe Düsseldorf China Ltd., Hong Kong

2019 - 2024 | General Manager, Messe Düsseldorf (Shanghai) Co., Ltd., Shanghai

2016 – 2019 | Project Director ProWein, Global Head – Wine & Spirits, Messe Düsseldorf GmbH, Düsseldorf

2014 – 2016 | Senior Project Manager, Messe Düsseldorf GmbH, Düsseldorf

2013 – 2014 | Project Director ProWine China, Liaison Officer, Messe Düsseldorf (Shanghai) Co., Ltd., Shanghai

2012 – 2013 | Senior Project Manager, Messe Düsseldorf GmbH, Düsseldorf

2011 - 2012 | Traineeship Messe Düsseldorf GmbH, Düsseldorf

Studies/Education:

Master of Arts (M.A.) „General Management“, University Witten/Herdecke

Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) „Internationales Handelsmanagement im Praxisverbund (trading management)“, University of Applied Science Worms

Date/Place of birth

1986/Düsseldorf

Bernhard J. Stempfle

Managing Director Finance and Infrastructure

About Bernhard J. Stempfle

Positions

since 07/2020 | Managing Director Finance and Infrastructure, Messe Düsseldorf GmbH

since 2011 | Managing Director Finance and Technology, Messe Düsseldorf GmbH

since 2010 | Managing Director Finance, Messe Düsseldorf GmbH

2005 - 2010 | Member of the Executive Board, Freudenberg Simrit Europa Group

2003 - 2005 | Head of Group Controlling, Freudenberg & Co. (Holding)

1992 - 2002 | Group Deutsche Bank AG, Stuttgart, Böblingen, Paris, Frankfurt

Titles/Qualifications

Degree in Commerce

Studies/Training

Business Administration (MBA) at Ashridge, England

Studies in Business Administration at the University of Passau

Trained as a Bank Clerk at Deutsche Bank AG

Date/Place of birth

1965/Aalen (Baden-Württemberg)

Claire Steinbrück

Executive Director Global Corporate Development and Strategy

About Claire Steinbrück

Positions

Since 2025 | Executive Director "Global Corporate Development and Strategy", Messe Düsseldorf GmbH

2022–2025 | Divisional Director Trade Fair Management, Koelnmesse GmbH

2018–2022 | Director imm cologne, Koelnmesse GmbH

2016–2018 | Team Leader Outbound Fairs, Koelnmesse GmbH

2013–2016 | Deputy Director German Pavilion EXPO Milano 2015, Messe Frankfurt Exhibition GmbH

2008–2012 | Project Manager Innovation Management, Messe Frankfurt Exhibition GmbH

2006–2008 | Project Manager, Productpilot GmbH

Titles/Qualification

Diploma in Business Administration (University of Cooperative Education)

Studies/Education

University of Cooperative Education Ravensburg, Ravensburg and Frankfurt am Main, Germany

Date/Place of Birth

1982 / Hamburg

Petra Cullmann

Executive Director Trade Fairs

About Petra Cullmann

Positions

since 2020 | Executive Director Operative Trade Fair Business, Messe Düsseldorf GmbH

2015 – 2020 | Global Portfolio Director Plastics & Rubber, Messe Düsseldorf GmbH

2007 – 2015 | Director K, Messe Düsseldorf GmbH

2001–2017 | Director Partner and Guest Events, Messe Düsseldorf GmbH

1999–2000 | Director Sports Marketing/German House - Summer Olympic Games 2000, Messe Düsseldorf GmbH, Sydney

1996–1999 | Corporate-PR- and Protocol Manager/Foreign Representation, Messe Düsseldorf Asia, Singapur

1992–1996 | Project Manager Protocol, Nowea International GmbH

1991 | Trainee, Nowea International GmbH, Düsseldorf

Titles/Qualification

M.A.

Studies/Education

University of Cologne, Cologne

Date/Place of Birth

1964 / Düsseldorf

Michael Degen

Executive Director Trade Fairs

About Michael Degen

Positions

since 2007 | Executive Director Domestic Trade Fairs Division

1997 - 2006 | Authorised Signatory and Head of the Trade Fairs & Exhibitions Division at Messe Hamburg und Congress GmbH, Hamburg

1994 - 1997 | Project Manager at Messe Berlin GmbH, Berlin

1993 - 1994 | Management Role in Marketing for Exhibitions and Trade Fairs and Exhibitions at Messe Berlin GmbH, Berlin

1992 - 1993 | Marketing Officer, Central Marketing and Corporate Planning Division at Messe Berlin GmbH, Berlin

Titles/Qualifications

Degree in Commerce (FH)

Studies/Training

Fachhochschule für Wirtschaft, Berlin

Date/Place of birth

1963/Kiel

Clemens Hauser

Executive Director Technical Operations

About Clemens Hauser

Positions

since 06/2011 | Executive Director Technology Division

2002 - 2011 | Head of Operating and Communication Technology Department at Messe Düsseldorf GmbH

2001 - 2002 | Deputy Head of Event Technology Department at Messe Düsseldorf GmbH

1998 - 2001 | Employed in Operating Technology Dept., Responsible for the Construction of an Exhibition Hall from Design through to Commissioning at Messe Düsseldorf GmbH

1988 - 1998 | Customer Consulting, Sales, Project Planning and Project Coordination at ANSALDO (Germany) GmbH, Düsseldorf

Titles/Qualifications

Degree in Engineering

Studies/Training

Studies of Electrical Engineering FH Düsseldorf

Date/Place of birth

1961/St. Tönis bei Krefeld

Bernd Jablonowski

Executive Director Trade Fairs

About Bernd Jablonowski

Positions

since 2020 | Executive Director Operative Trade Fair Business, Messe Düsseldorf GmbH

2015-2020 | Global Portfolio Director Processing & Packaging, Messe Düsseldorf GmbH

since 2009 | Initiator & Director of the project „Save Food“

2008–2015 | Director interpack, Messe Düsseldorf GmbH

2004–2008 | Project Director interpack, Messe Düsseldorf GmbH

2002–2004 | Managing Director OOO Messe Düsseldorf Moscow

1999–2004 | Head of Moscow Branch, Nowea International GmbH (since 2002: Messe Düsseldorf GmbH), Moscow

1995–1999 | Sales Representative Nowea International GmbH, Düsseldorf

Titles/Qualification

Diploma in Business Administration

Studies/Education

Specialization in economics Düsseldorf (FH)

Date/Place of Birth

1965 / Ratingen

Dr. Christian Plenge

Executive Director Digital Strategy & Communication

About Dr. Christian Plenge

Positions

since 2017/11 | Executive Director Digital Strategy and Communication

2014 – 2017 | Director IT Planning, Demand & Delivery Telefonica Germany GmbH & Co. OHG

2014 | Director Product Development & Process Management E-Plus Mobilfunk GmbH

2005 – 2014 | Division Manager of Architecture, Quality Assurance & Innovation METRO SYSTEMS GmbH, Düsseldorf

1998 – 2004 | Senior Associate of Communication, Media and Technology Practice Booz Allen Hamilton, today Strategy&, Düsseldorf

1996 – 1998 | Consultant for Wireless Local Loop Otelo GmbH, Essen

1992 – 1996 | Scientific assistant European research projects Institute for communication networks at University of Aachen (RWTH)

Titles/Qualification

Promotion Summa cum Laude

Studies/Training

Promotion
Awardee of “Friedrich Wilhelm Preis” of University of Aachen for outstanding scientific performance

Diploma with honor
Decoration for outstanding performance with “Springorum Gedenkmünze” of University of Aachen and “Borchers Plakette” of RWTH Alumni network

Study on Electrical Engineering, direction Computer Engineering, RWTH Aachen

Date/Place of birth

1966/Bottrop

Supervisory Board

Dr. Stephan Keller (Chairman of the Supervisory Board)
Lord Mayor of the City of Düsseldorf, Capital of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia

Andreas Hartnigk (Vice-Chairman)
Lawyer, Councillor of the City of Düsseldorf

Andreas Ehlert (Vice-Chairman)
President of the Chamber of Skilled Trades Düsseldorf

Holger Engelskirchen (Vice-Chairman)
Chairman of the Workers Council, Employee Representative at Messe Düsseldorf GmbH

Uwe Balzer
Industrial Engineering, Employee Representative at Messe Düsseldorf GmbH

Franca Bavaj
Councillor of the City of Düsseldorf

Jörk Cardeneo
Councillor of the City of Düsseldorf

Missagh Ghasemi
Councillor of the City of Düsseldorf

Karsten Houf
Diploma in Business Law, Employee Representative at Messe Düsseldorf GmbH

Dipl.-Ing. Ian Hume
Head of Department, Employee Representative at Messe Düsseldorf GmbH

Ilay Izmir
Councillor of the City of Düsseldorf

Janine Kipping
Personal Assistant Workers Council, Employee Representative at Messe Düsseldorf GmbH

Silke Krebs
State Secretary, Ministry of Economic Affairs, Industry, Climate Protection and Energy of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia

Dr. Gert Leis
Assistant Secretary in the Ministry of Finance of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia

Dirk Lindner
Permanent Representative of the President of the Düsseldorf Chamber of Industry and Commerce

Angelika Penack-Bielor
Councillor of the City of Düsseldorf

Dr. Sabrina Proschmann
Councillor of the City of Düsseldorf

Mirko Rohloff
Councillor of the City of Düsseldorf

Dipl.-Ing. Stefanie Rübsamen
Head of Department, Employee Representative at Messe Düsseldorf GmbH

Dr. Johannes Velling
Assistant Secretary in the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Industry, Climate Protection and Energy of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia

Nora Wernick
Head of Department, Employee Representative at Messe Düsseldorf GmbH

Shareholders

Shareholders	Capital Shares
City of Düsseldorf	56,50 %
Industrieterrains Düsseldorf-Reisholz AG, Düsseldorf	20,00 %
State of Northrhine-Westfalia, Beteiligungsverwaltungsgesellschaft des Landes NRW mbH, Düsseldorf	20,00 %
Chamber of Industry and Commerce of Düsseldorf	1,75 %
Chamber of Handicraft of Düsseldorf	1,75 %
Capital stock	100,00 %

Participation

Trades fairs thrive on networking. Here you will find an overview of all domestic and foreign participations of Messe Düsseldorf.

Memberships

German Association of the Exhibition Industry (AUMA)

As the central organisation of the German trade fair industry, AUMA is the combination of all those forces which are partners shaping the trade fair market, in other words, exhibitors, visitors, trade fair organisers and service companies. In the service of its members it devotes all its energies to ensure that

trade fairs are the leading marketing instrument for the exhibiting and visiting sectors of business,
Germany with its international trade fairs maintains its leading position worldwide,
trade fairs conducted by German organisers abroad play a leading role.

AUMA promotes the quality of German trade fairs through the creation of market transparency, through the support of cooperation between the market partners, through the exchange of information and experience between its members and through joint projects with the members.

www.auma.de

International Association of the Exhibition Industry (ufi)

ufi, the Global Association of the Fair Industry, is a non-governmental organization based in Paris and associating organizers of fairs and exhibitions from around the globe. Membership in this prestigious organization is an orientation guideline and good reference for the exhibitors and visitors and one of the guarantees of the high quality of the fair and exhibition projects for which ufi lays down binding criteria on incorporation in the category of international fairs.

www.ufinet.org

Society for Voluntary Control of Fair and Exhibition Statistics (FKM)

From the very start in 1965, FKM’s basic principles included establishing comparable and reliable exhibition statistics. FKM set up uniform rules for obtaining exhibitor numbers, visitor attendance, exhibition space data and for visitor breakdown statistics. FKM ensures independent auditors check that the rules are adhered to. Because exhibitors and visitors can only plan properly if they can be sure that the data available for the period in question, compared with other exhibitions, is based on uniform criteria.

www.fkm.de