Deutsche Messe expands Executive Board to three members

Deutsche Messe AG restructured its leadership, expanding the Executive Board to three members with priorities in trade fair business, digitalisation, and site development and transformation. The change was announced in Hannover by Lower Saxony Minister for Economic Affairs and Supervisory Board chairman Grant Hendrik Tonne, with deputy chairman and Mayor of Hannover Belit Onay also speaking. CEO Jochen Köckler will drive the trade fair business, focusing on strengthening flagship fairs such as HANNOVER MESSE and EMO Hannover and attracting new partner fairs including the defence show DSEI Germany and the energy exhibition Europe Energy Week, which comes to Hannover for the first time in 2027. Holger Feist joined the board on 1 May 2026, responsible for new business in Germany and abroad, digitalisation and new digital services, and guest exhibitions at the Hannover grounds including AGRITECHNICA and IAA Transportation; he previously worked at McKinsey & Company and Hubert Burda Media and was Chief Strategy Officer at Messe München. Konstantin Kühl joins on 18 May 2026 to develop a long-term master plan, evaluating the business model, identifying areas that may no longer be needed and directing targeted investment; he has been a partner at Roland Berger since 2017.