Messe Düsseldorf ‘streamlines’ leadership team

Wolfram Diener is set to become president and CEO of ProWein organiser Messe Düsseldorf as Werner Dornscheidt prepares to retire after 17 years in the role.

Wolfram Diener will become president and CEO of Messe Düsseldorf

Diener will take over from Dornscheidt when he retires at the end of June 2020. Diener joined Messe Düsseldorf in 2018 as managing director. He will continue to be responsible for operational projects spanning beauty, health, plastics, corporate communications, law and HR.

Erhard Wienkamp, meanwhile, has been named managing director operative trade fair business, taking over from Hans Werner Reinhard, who left the company at the end of September. An executive director at Messe Düsseldorf since 2002, Wienkamp will step into the role on 1 January 2020 and will have responsibility for wine and spirits trade fair ProWein, in addition to other portfolios.

Erhard Wienkamp has been named the new managing director operative trade fair business

“Markets are shifting, the world is becoming more international, more digital and more complex,” said Dornscheidt. “With their many years of trade fair experience worldwide, Wolfram Diener and Erhard Wienkamp are the ideal torchbearers to lead Messe Düsseldorf into the future. They stand for both renewal and continuity.”

According to Messe Düsseldorf, the board of management has become “leaner” as a result of the personnel changes. Bernhard Stempfle, responsible for finance and technology, joins Diener and Wienkamp as the only other member on the management team. Messe Düsseldorf’s website currently lists seven people on its management board.

Messe Düsseldorf chairman, lord mayor Thomas Geisel, said: “Messe Düsseldorf will have a streamlined, powerful and above all expert management team that will give the company the necessary agility to face the future in these times of digitalisation, global challenges and growing responsibility.”