As an organizer of international exhibitions and events, Deutsche Messe has seen its business dry up over the past year. As a result of the Corona crisis, the company generated sales of Euro 100 million, accompanied by a loss of Euro 83 million.
The company has taken advantage of the lull to gear up for the post-coronavirus era. "The year 2021 will be a year of transition and preparation for our relaunch. We are putting our company in the best possible position to successfully host trade fairs as soon as the overall situation allows it. To this end, we are expanding our trade fairs via year-round digital offerings, as well as making our exhibition center 5G-ready and planning entirely new events for 2022," reported Deutsche Messe Managing Board Chairman Dr. Jochen Köckler, during his presentation of the company's 2020 business results at the recent Deutsche Messe Supervisory Board meeting.
Deutsche Messe is expecting between 500 and 1,000 industrial enterprises, including numerous market leaders, to participate in the digital edition of HANNOVER MESSE.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel will open the trade fair online. Leading representatives from business, politics and science have confirmed their participation. Together with Deutsche Telekom and Siemens, a comprehensive 5G campus network will be installed on the exhibition grounds.
According to Köckler: "As early as September 2021, we will function as Europe's first 5G exhibition center. This will give rise to new business models, which in turn will secure new revenue potential for our business." The company is also making great strides in developing new fairs, with a number of different trade fair premieres planned for 2022, to be announced over the coming weeks.
Simultaneously, in view of the current situation and for the foreseeable future, the corporate shareholders decided to narrow the size of the Managing Board down to just one member.
"Dr. Gruchow has graciously agreed to step down from his position on the best of terms. The shareholders and the Supervisory Board want to express their sincerest thanks to Dr. Gruchow for all of his hard work – especially during the current crisis – and wish him the very best for his future endeavors," said Belit Onay, Lord Mayor of the City of Hanover and Chairman of the Deutsche Messe Supervisory Board.
At the same meeting, BDI President Siegfried Russwurm was elected Vice Chairman of the Supervisory Board.
