Deutsche Messe AG is restructuring its leadership team and aligning its Executive Board more closely with the company’s future development - particularly the further evolution of the exhibition grounds. By expanding the board to three members, the company is setting clear strategic priorities in the areas of trade fair business, digitalization, and site development & transformation, as announced today in Hanover by Lower Saxony’s Minister for Economic Affairs and Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Deutsche Messe AG, Grant Hendrik Tonne.

Deputy Chairman of the Supervisory Board and Mayor of Hanover, Belit Onay, added:

As Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Jochen Köckler will drive the further development of the trade fair business in Hanover, with a particular focus on strengthening established flagship fairs such as the HANNOVER MESSE and EMO Hannover, as well as attracting new partner trade fairs. These include the defense trade fair DSEI Germany and the energy exhibition Europe Energy Week, both of which will be held in Hanover for the first time in 2027.

Since May 1, 2026, Dr. Holger Feist has also joined the Executive Board of Deutsche Messe AG. The Supervisory Board appointed Dr. Feist as a new member of the board, with primary responsibility for developing new business activities in Germany and abroad, as well as advancing the company’s digitalization efforts. This includes, in particular, the development of new digital services designed to provide added value for exhibitors and visitors while meaningfully extending the trade fair experience into the digital world. He will also oversee guest exhibitions at the Hanover exhibition grounds, including the AGRITECHNICA and IAA Transportation. Dr. Feist brings many years of experience in management consulting, media, digitalization, and the international trade fair industry. Following positions at McKinsey & Company and Hubert Burda Media, he served as Chief Strategy Oficer at Messe München, where he was responsible for the company’s strategic development.

The third board member, Konstantin Kühl, will join the Executive Board on Monday, May 18, 2026. He will be responsible for developing a long-term master plan for the future of Deutsche Messe. The goal is to strategically evaluate and consistently evolve the company’s current business model. This will also involve decisions regarding areas that may no longer be need-ed in the future, as well as targeted investments - all aimed at continuing to provide custom-ers with a high-quality trade fair experience in Hanover. Konstantin Kühl has been a partner at Roland Berger since 2017, where he has led complex transformation projects and developed and implemented strategic and operational concepts.