Oliver Frese named Chief Operating Officer of Koelnmesse

Prior to his board position at the Deutsche Messe AG, Frese ran the Hannover Messe, the world’s most important industrial trade fair, until 2013. On the Management Board, he was responsible for Technology, Gastronomy and Services, as well as the ICT & Digital Business Events competence area and all public trade fairs at the Hanover site.

“With Oliver Frese, we have gained an extremely experienced trade fair manager and an authentic leader who we trust will be able to integrate new events as well as further develop Cologne’s traditional trade fairs to meet the requirements of the modern trade fair business,” said Cologne’s Mayor Henriette Reker, Chairperson of the Koelnmesse Supervisory Board. 

“With Oliver Frese, a dynamic and recognised trade fair professional is coming to Cologne, who has experienced all the facets of the rapidly transforming trade fair industry in his successful career to date”, added Gerald Böse, President and Chief Executive Officer of Koelnmesse “I am looking forward to working with him in the management team to continue our success story.” 

With Oliver Frese as COO, Koelnmesse’s top management now consists of Gerald Böse, President/CEO and responsible for corporate strategy, corporate development and international business, and Herbert Marner (CFO), who is responsible for technical and financial matters.