Thomas Koch becomes Managing Director of European Metropolitan Region of Nuremberg

There are changes at the helm of NürnbergMesse Group: Dr Thomas Koch, Senior Vice President Group Development, has been appointed Managing Director of the European Metropolitan Region of Nuremberg and will leave NürnbergMesse on 1 August 2025, while Wolfgang Kranz, Vice President International, is set to retire. “Dr Thomas Koch has always put his heart and soul into the ongoing development of our company. We would like to warmly congratulate him on this major career move and wish him every success in his new role!” says Peter Ottmann, CEO of NürnbergMesse Group.

Thomas Koch joined NürnbergMesse in 2014 as Head of Corporate Communications and Press Spokesperson. Just one year later, he also assumed responsibility for HR and legal issues as Divisional Manager. In 2017, he was appointed to the Management Board, since when he has worked with his teams to ensure that the NürnbergMesse corporate brand is effectively communicated and comprehensively protected, and that the company is seen as a model employer.

As a member of the Executive Board, he has been part of the NürnbergMesse management team since 2023. In this role, he also headed our international business activities, with seats on the Advisory Boards of our subsidiaries in Athens, Atlanta, Shanghai and Milan.

An important communicator

Whether in his capacity as a crisis manager during the Covid-19 pandemic, a much-valued discussion partner for the works council, or a skilful networker, Thomas Koch has rendered outstanding service to NürnbergMesse and will leave the company with mixed emotions: “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. I wish the entire NürnbergMesse Group continued success and all the very best!”

The metropolitan region as a key institution

Dr Thomas Koch is taking on the role of Managing Director of the European Metropolitan Region of Nuremberg (EMN). He succeeds Dr Christa Standecker, who is retiring. For NürnbergMesse as a German and international trade fair venue, the EMN is an important institution that contributes to the region’s pulling power. We are delighted to be able to now continue working successfully with the EMN with a manager and trade fair insider from our own ranks!

Wolfgang Kranz retires

Also on 1 August, Wolfgang Kranz, Head of the International Division, will retire from the company. Since November 2013, he has been responsible for developing the international business of NürnbergMesse. Key milestones in his career included the acquisition of the leading Greek exhibition company Forum S.A. and the trade fair organiser trendfairs GmbH. During his tenure, the international portfolio was also expanded through acquisitions around the world, such as BROADCAST INDIA, Scat India and Indiawood. Today, the company’s international portfolio comprises around 50 events with a revenue of some €67 million that are executed by eight international subsidiaries and marketed by a global network of more than 100 international sales partners. “Under Wolfgang Kranz, our overseas business made huge strides, for which we are very grateful to him. He is leaving us a whole range of other potential development steps on the international stage. We wish him all the very best for his retirement!” says CEO Peter Ottmann.

_{About NürnbergMesse Group}

_{The NürnbergMesse Group was entered in the commercial register on 5 April 1974 as Nürnberger Messe- und Ausstellungsgesellschaft mbH (NMA) and is now one of the 15 largest exhibition companies worldwide. The Group employs more than 1,200 people at 15 international locations in Germany, Austria, Italy, Greece, Brazil, China, India and the USA. It also has a network of international representatives in more than 100 other countries. Its portfolio comprises around 120 on-site and online events focusing on five main areas: Retail & Consumer Goods, Building & Construction, Process Technology, Electronics & Security, and Social & Public. Overall, its events secure more than 12,000 jobs and generate billions of euros in purchasing power and tax revenue every year, making NürnbergMesse a major economic driver for the Nuremberg Metropolitan Region and Germany as a whole. As an employer and organiser of major events, NürnbergMesse takes its responsibilities for people and the environment seriously. Its business activities are aligned with the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) with the aim of achieving a CO2-neutral energy supply by 2028.}