- Ernst Kick and Dr. Hans-Juergen Richter to step down in 2021

- Christian Ulrich, Florian Hess and Jens Pfluger form three-strong team

The management of Spielwarenmesse eG is setting the course for the future and 
has revealed significant changes to the Executive Board which will take effect 
half-way through next year. The long-standing Executives Ernst Kick (CEO) and 
Dr. Hans-Juergen Richter will be leaving on 30 June 2021 when their term comes 
to an end. The new Executive Board will be expanded to three members. Christian 
Ulrich, Florian Hess and Jens Pfluger, all experienced industry experts, will 
take over the helm of the Nuremberg exhibition organiser and marketing services 
provider on 1 July 2021. The decision was made during the Supervisory Board 
meeting on 8 May 2020.

This early decision by Spielwarenmesse eG demonstrates foresight and 
consideration. Axel Kaldenhoven, Chairman of the Supervisory Board at 
Spielwarenmesse eG, commented: "Trade fairs are as important as ever and will 
lose none of their significance. After all, industries across the board thrive 
on personal business relationships. This strategic step is both logical and 
right and will ensure that Spielwarenmesse eG continues to operate successfully 
and proactively." 

The generous time frame paves the way for a fluid transition. The future 
management team will be taking over a solid company which Ernst Kick and Dr. 
Hans-Juergen Richter have adapted to the changing market in recent years, 
shaping it in decisive ways. Assuming his role as CEO in 2002, Ernst Kick has 
strengthened the cooperative, whilst conceptually reinforcing the leading role 
of the Spielwarenmesse and driving internationalisation. As a member of the 
Executive Board, Dr. Hans-Juergen Richter has been responsible for legal 
questions and matters relating to members since 2005. 

The three future members of the Executive Board have been recruited from the 
cooperative's own ranks. Christian Ulrich, Florian Hess and Jens Pfluger have 
many years' experience in the exhibition industry and, as members of the 
management, have all played an important role in shaping company strategy and 
building international exhibition projects. Their responsibilities are all 
clearly defined: Christian Ulrich will assume the role of Executive Board 
Spokesman and will be responsible for Marketing, Press Relations & 
Communication as well as New Business Areas. Florian Hess will oversee Event 
Organisation, Sales and Legal Matters. Jens Pfluger will look after Finance, 
IT, HR, Digitalisation and Member Services. 

Commenting on the changes, Ernst Kick stated: "I'll be delighted next year to 
place the responsibilities of the Executive Board in such trustworthy and 
capable hands." When speaking about the transition in difficult times such as 
these, he also had a few words of encouragement: "The exhibition industry is 
facing unprecedented challenges. Given that the team had already started 
working on alternative formats even before corona and we are happy to offer 
guidance during the transition period, I'm optimistic that the new team will be 
very successful in steering the fortunes of Spielwarenmesse eG long into the 
future."

Spielwarenmesse eG 

Spielwarenmesse eG is the fair organizer and marketing services provider for 
the toy sector and other consumer goods markets. The Nuremberg company 
organizes the world-leading Spielwarenmesse(R) in Nuremberg, Kids India in 
Mumbai and Insights-X in Nuremberg. The range of services provided by the 
cooperative also includes industry campaigns and the international fair 
programme, World of Toys by Spielwarenmesse eG, which enables manufacturers to 
exhibit at pavilions featured at trade fairs in Asia and Russia. 
Spielwarenmesse eG operates a worldwide network of representatives in over 90 
countries. It also has several subsidiaries, including Spielwarenmesse Shanghai 
Co., Ltd., responsible for the People's Republic of China and Spielwarenmesse 
India Pvt. Ltd., covering the Indian market. The cooperative holds a majority 
stake in the Russian exhibition company Grand Expo, which organizes Kids Russia 
in Moscow. Die roten Reiter GmbH subsidiary with headquarters in Nuremberg 
works as communication agency for the consumer and capital goods industry. The 
complete company profile of Spielwarenmesse eG can be seen on the Internet at 
www.spielwarenmesse-eg.com.

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1167105/Spielwarenmesse_eG_Logo.jpg  
Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1167104/Spielwarenmesse_eG.jpg 

Source: Spielwarenmesse eG