Hannover, Germany. At its meeting on 31 August, the Supervisory Board of Deutsche Messe AG resolved to extend the contract of CEO Dr. Jochen Köckler through 2029. Together with his fellow Managing Board members Dr. Holger Feist and Konstantin Kühl, Dr. Köckler will continue to drive forward the company’s economic and strategic transformation.

With this decision, the Supervisory Board is ensuring continuity in the company’s leadership at an important stage in its development. Under Dr. Köckler’s leadership, the company has achieved significant successes in recent years. These include the establishment of the security and defence trade fair DSEI Germany, securing EMO Hannover at the venue for the long term, attracting ITMA and didacta, as well as successfully launching new formats such as Real Estate Arena and Pro Care.

At the same time, the company continues to face a challenging economic situation and business environment. It is therefore all the more important to build on the successes achieved to date and continue along the path of transformation with a clear focus on profitability and competitiveness.

Grant Hendrik Tonne, Lower Saxony’s Minister for Economic Affairs, Transport, Building and Digitalisation and Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Deutsche Messe AG, said: “The task of positioning Deutsche Messe AG for a successful and sustainable future is, and will remain, both demanding and of great importance. The Supervisory Board has consistently taken the necessary steps to ensure that the new Executive Board team has the right framework in place to successfully move this task forward. We have great confidence in the team’s ability to shape the future and take decisive action, and we will continue to closely support and accompany its work going forward.”

“I would like to thank the Supervisory Board for the trust they have placed in me, and I look forward to working with our employees and my fellow Managing Board members, Dr. Holger Feist and Konstantin Kühl, to tackle the tasks ahead. Our priority now is to consistently continue along the path we have embarked upon. I am convinced that with a strong team, strong trade fairs and the courage to embrace change, we will successfully overcome the challenges of the years ahead,” said Dr. Jochen Köckler.

Dr. Jochen Köckler has been a member of the Managing Board of Deutsche Messe AG since 2012 and has served as Chairman of the Managing Board since 2017.