SINGAPORE – The board of international exhibition association UFI has appointed Arie Brienen, the CEO of Royal Dutch Jaarbeurs, as its 2012 president.
The announcement, made at the ongoing UFI annual congress in Singapore, means that Brienen’s presidency will follow that of Eric Everard, executive chairman of Belgium’s Artexis and Easyfairs, which begins later this month.
Among Briennen’s key goals will be the progression and development of the UFI sustainable development committee. Making the announcement at its 77th UFI Congress, UFI CEO Paul Woodward described Brienen as “forward-thinking” and a long-time contributor to its cause.
“I’ve been an active member of UFI for many years now, and look forward to encouraging many colleagues from UFI member organisations to take a more active role as well,” Briennen said upon his appointment. “As an industry association, UFI is an ideal platform for us to act together to tackle industry issues at a global level.”
The current serving UFI president is Manfred Wutzlhofer of Germany’s Messe Munich.
“Our industry has helped to stabilise economic development and overcome all
fears that exhibitions would not be necessary and attractive in the future,” Wutzlhofer said at the UFI Congress. “UFI has been a significant platform for the creation of solutions to the important challenges facing our exhibition industry”.
Everard meanwhile, said his key objective during his incoming presidency would be to demonstrate the value of exhibitions and tradeshows as the strongest direct marketing tool available in today’s changing world.
“We like to say that marketing doesn’t get any more direct than a tradeshow. Taking this to heart, UFI must provide our members with activities and programmes which focus on communicating these benefits and adding value to their business,” he said.
The arrangement means that Wutzlhofer and Brienen will provide continuity and support to Everard, who is in effect serving the middle year of a three-year UFI presidential cycle: one year as incoming president, one year as incumbent president, and one year as outgoing-president.
UFI also reported an all-time membership high of 553 during the 77th Congress. The event is being held in Singapore from 10-13 November at the Marina Bay Sands.
