Successful duo: Reinhard Pfeiffer and Stefan Rummel reconfirmed as CEOs of Messe München for another five years

Messe München’s general meeting of shareholders has extended the contracts of the two trade fair CEOs Reinhard Pfeiffer and Stefan Rummel, which run until the end of 2024, early by five years. With this decision, the shareholders honor the successful work of the two Managing Directors, who have been heading Messe München since July 1, 2022.

“With Reinhard Pfeiffer and Stefan Rummel, Messe München is in very good hands,” says Dieter Reiter, Chairman of Messe München’s Supervisory Board and Lord Mayor of Munich. “I am looking forward to continuing the very good collaboration with the executive team. By extending the contract ahead of time, I am also saying thank you for their performance to date.”

Bavaria’s Minister of Economic Affairs and Deputy Chairman of the Supervisory Board Hubert Aiwanger adds: “Messe München is back on track for success after the COVID-19 crisis. The two CEOs have set the right course. We are therefore focusing on continuity and with this extension are expressing our confidence in them.”

“Our shareholders’ confidence in us encourages us to continue consistently and successfully implementing our plans for Messe München’s future with our trade fair teams in Germany and abroad,” say Reinhard Pfeiffer and Stefan Rummel. Messe München group generated sales of 441.3 million Euros last year under their leadership, thus exceeding all expectations for the financial year, which had been cautiously calculated after the COVID-19 years. The two CEOs will continue to focus on the core business and key challenges: trade fairs and congresses, digitalization, the diversification of the international strategy, and sustainability concepts.

Reactions of the shareholders

Both chambers also count on the duo. “Reinhard Pfeiffer and Stefan Rummel complement each other excellently as a dual leadership. Even before their appointment, they had already impressively demonstrated their expertise as trade fair organizers,” says Franz Xaver Peteranderl, President of the Chamber of Skilled Crafts for Munich and Upper Bavaria. Dr. Manfred Gößl, CEO of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry for Munich and Upper Bavaria, is certain: “The shareholders are united in their trust that Reinhard Pfeiffer and Stefan Rummel will carry on Messe München's success story and set new directions for the company at the same time.” And Martin Schöffel, State Secretary, Bavarian State Department for Finance and Homeland confirms: “Messe München is a central pillar in the state's shareholding portfolio and a significant economic engine for all of Bavaria. With the continuation of the proven dual leadership, Messe München is also ideally positioned for the future.”

The extension of the contracts sets the course for 2025: a mega year for both Managing Directors and their 1,100 employees in Munich and abroad, with all the major trade fairs such as BAU, bauma, expo real or automatica taking place, which will once again attract millions of visitors. In years like these, Messe München’s trade fairs generate indirect profitability of more than four billion Euros across Germany.