Koelnmesse CEO Gerald Böse: New Contract until 2023

Cologne Mayor Reker: "We trust in his ability to achieve future success and provide strong leadership

At the most recent meeting of the Koelnmesse Supervisory Board, CEO Gerald Böse and the Board came to an agreement about an extension of his contract as Koelnmesse's President and Chief Executive Officer until 2023. Böse has held this position since the spring of 2008.

"The decision is a sign of our trust in Gerald Böse's ability to continue to lead the company into a successful future. He has led Koelnmesse with lasting effect out of the financial and economic crisis and placed it among the Top Ten international trade fair companies. In all of his corporate decisions, he always takes Cologne's position as a business location into account. We need a strong Koelnmesse for the sustained development of our region," said Cologne Mayor Henriette Reker, who is the Chairperson of the Supervisory Board. "Gerald Böse is the right person for this job."

Gerald Böse said, "Every agreement requires that both parties have confidence that they can work together to master the challenges facing them. I thank the Supervisory Board and our shareholders for their support, which is as strong today as it has been during the past ten years. I am determined to continue developing Koelnmesse and Cologne as a trade fair location at the highest possible level in the future - thanks to the support of our committed team in Cologne and all over the world. Without its support this would not be possible."

Koelnmesse has been on a steady course of growth for years. It aims to achieve sustained turnover that is well over ¤300 million and plans to regularly post a profit in the years ahead. Through the Koelnmesse 3.0 programme it is planning to invest well over ¤600 million in the period until 2030 and to implement a comprehensive digitalization strategy that will meet the requirements of the trade fair business in the years ahead. These plans are also specified in the Annual Report for 2016, which Koelnmesse has already presented to the supervisory bodies, and which will be published in mid-July. At the Expo 2020 world fair in Dubai, Koelnmesse will once again be responsible for creating the German Pavilion.