Dr Thomas Koch, senior vice-president of group development at NürnbergMesse, will leave the German trade fair organiser on 1 August 2025. Koch has been appointed MD of the European Metropolitan Region of Nuremberg. Meanwhile, Wolfgang Kranz, vice-president of international, will retire on the same date.
The leadership changes come as NürnbergMesse continues its international expansion strategy. The company now operates eight international subsidiaries and works with over 100 sales partners globally, generating around €67m from its international portfolio of 50 events.
Koch joined NürnbergMesse in 2014 as head of corporate communications and press spokesperson. He was promoted to divisional manager in 2015, taking on HR and legal responsibilities, before joining the management board in 2017. Since 2023, he has served on the executive board, overseeing international business activities with seats on advisory boards for subsidiaries in Athens, Atlanta, Shanghai and Milan.
“Under Wolfgang Kranz, our overseas business made huge strides … Dr Thomas Koch has always put his heart and soul into the ongoing development of our company,” said Peter Ottmann, chief executive of NürnbergMesse Group.
Koch will succeed Dr Christa Standecker as managing director of the European Metropolitan Region of Nuremberg – an institution that supports the region’s trade fair industry.
“I look back fondly at my incredibly exciting time at NürnbergMesse. It has been a great honour for me to take on these responsibilities for over 11 years. I have especially appreciated the close and partnership-driven collaboration I have enjoyed with my colleagues in Nuremberg and at our subsidiaries worldwide,” Koch said.
Wolfgang Kranz, who has led NürnbergMesse’s international division since November 2013, will retire after overseeing significant overseas expansion.
Key acquisitions during his tenure included Greek exhibition company Forum S.A. and trade fair organiser trendfairs GmbH. The international portfolio was further expanded through acquisitions of BROADCAST INDIA, Scat India and Indiawood.
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