EUROPE - The newly-formed European Exhibition Industry Alliance (EEIA) has appointed former Messe Frankfurt luminary Barbara Weizsacker as its general secretary.
EEIA is a new alliance between UFI and the European Major Exhibition Centres Association (EMECA) aimed at improving recognition of the exhibition industry across Europe. The initiative was officially announced at the UFI’s European Open Seminar in Hamburg from 18-20 June.
Weizsacker has spent the last 11 years with Messe Frankfurt (Germany), most recently as director of public affairs across the European office. She was also responsible for the Messe Frankfurt Against Copying campaign, the EU-Working Group within the EMECA, and established the company’s EU affairs department.
Weizsacker started her career at the German Publishers and Booksellers Federation in Frankfurt before moving to Brussels to work for the European Booksellers Federation, where she managed relationships with European institutions and stakeholders.
“It is essential that our industry speaks with one united voice for its interests in Brussels. I am convinced that with Barbara Weizsacker as general secretary, this close cooperation between UFI and EMECA will contribute to enhancing the role and impact of the exhibition industry in Europe,” said EMECA president and general manager of Rimini Fiera Piero Venturelli.
UFI president Arie Brienen highlighted Weizsacker’s extensive knowledge of the exhibition industry and experience working with EU governing bodies as key reasons for her appointment.
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