"2021 will be a year of transition and preparation for the new start. We are putting our company in the best possible position to successfully organize trade fairs as soon as the general conditions allow. To this end, we are expanding our trade fairs to include year-round digital offerings, making our exhibition grounds 5G-ready and planning completely new events for 2022," said Dr. Jochen Köckler, CEO of Deutsche Messe AG, at the presentation of the business figures for 2020 at the Supervisory Board meeting of Deutsche Messe AG.

"2020 was the most difficult year in our company's history to date. From now on, however, we are looking exclusively to the future and making ourselves fit for the future," continued Köckler. "We are making rapid progress with the implementation of our future concept. Our digital and hybrid offerings are in high demand on the market." The trade fair expects between 500 and 1,000 companies to attend the digital edition of HANNOVER MESSE.

Together with Deutsche Telekom and Siemens, a comprehensive 5G campus network will be installed on the exhibition grounds. Köckler: "We will be the first 5G exhibition center in Europe as early as September 2021. This will give rise to new business models, which in turn will secure new revenue potential for us." The company is also making progress in the development of new trade fairs. Various trade fair premieres are planned for 2022, which will be presented to the public in the coming weeks.

"Thanks to its fundamental realignment and new market orientation, we believe Deutsche Messe is on a rocky but correct path to emerging stronger from the crisis," said Belit Onay, Lord Mayor of the City of Hanover and Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Deutsche Messe AG. "I would like to thank the Executive Board and the entire workforce for their commitment to the company. Together with Dr. Köckler at the helm of the trade fair, we want to continue to develop Hannover as a top international location for trade fairs over the next five years."

At the same time, in view of the current situation, the shareholders have decided that the company will initially be managed by a single Management Board. "Dr. Gruchow has thankfully agreed to resign from his position on the best of terms. The shareholders and the Supervisory Board would like to thank Dr. Gruchow for his work - especially in the current situation - and wish him all the best for his future career," Onay continued.

BDI President Siegfried Russwurm was elected Deputy Chairman of the Supervisory Board at the Supervisory Board meeting. "We are delighted that Mr. Russwurm, an absolute expert on German and international industry, will be accompanying our company in this important role in the future. This also underscores the importance of Deutsche Messe AG and the trade fair industry as a whole for technological innovation, progress and prosperity," said Köckler.