Messe Düsseldorf Sets the Course for Global Growth Initiative
To intensify its international activities, the trade fair company has established a new corporate division, “Global Corporate Development and Strategy.” Starting in 2025, this division will be led by Claire Steinbrück (42), who will join the management board of Messe Düsseldorf and report directly to the Presi-dent & CEO, Wolfram N. Diener. With this step, Messe Düsseldorf is embed-ding the growing importance of this topic into its organizational structure, while expanding top management resources to drive its development further.
Messe Düsseldorf Accelerates Internationalization Efforts
In her new role, Steinbrück will expand Messe Düsseldorf’s global network, ensuring that structures and organization effectively support the company’s ongoing global business development. The goal is to adapt Messe Düsseldorf’s international product portfolio to meet customer needs while strengthening Düsseldorf as a leading global trade fair hub. In 2023, 78% of exhibitors in the capital of the German federal state of North Rhine-Westphalia came from abroad, and over one-third (39%) of visitors were international. Steinbrück looks forward to her new role: “Messe Düsseldorf is one of the most successful trade fair companies in the world. To remain competitive internationally, we will strengthen its global network, explore new markets, and develop innovative formats. I am excited to help shape the future of Messe Düsseldorf actively.”
Extensive Experience in the Trade Fair Industry
Steinbrück has held leadership positions in the trade fair sector for over ten years. After working for Messe Frankfurt in Mexico and Argentina, she joined Messe Frankfurt Exhibition GmbH in 2008. There, she served as a project manager for Innovation Management until December 2012. Subsequently, she was appointed Deputy Director of the German Pavilion at EXPO Milano 2015. In 2016, Steinbrück moved from Messe Frankfurt to Koelnmesse GmbH, where she held several positions until November 2024. Most recently, she served as Divisional Director for Trade Fair Management, responsible for the strategic and conceptual oversight of Koelnmesse’s global food technology trade fair portfolio. Moving forward, Steinbrück will leverage her extensive industry expertise to position Messe Düsseldorf optimally in international markets.
Strategic Vision for Growth
In recent years, Messe Düsseldorf has steadily advanced its growth and invested significantly in international business development. Key initiatives include 29 new international events since 2023, the integration of five Asian subsidiaries under the newly formed “Messe Düsseldorf for Asia” network (MDfA), and a 50% stake in the joint venture “Hannover Messe Ankiros Fuarcılık A.S.” in Ankara. This development is reflected in the establishment of the new division, “Global Corporate Development and Strategy,” which encompasses the departments of “Corporate Business Development” (including “New Product Development,” “Market Research,” and “Partner and Guest Events”), “Sales Development,” “International Business,” and the newly planned “Corporate Development” unit. Wolfram N. Diener emphasized: “By consolidating these competencies under Claire Steinbrück’s leadership, we are laying the groundwork to access international markets more effectively, respond more quickly to global trends, and achieve sustainable growth.”
