People moves: August 12

In a week which saw senior management changes at ITE Group, here's this week's appointments wrap up:

NürnbergMesse China, Darren Guo

After almost five months serving as NürnbergMesse China’s interim managing director, Darren Guo (pictured above) has been appointed to the role permanently.

“Darren Guo has had a bond with NürnbergMesse from the start of his career,” said NürnbergMesse joint chief executive Dr Roland Fleck. “His linguistic and inter-cultural expertise make him the optimal connecting link between Nuremberg and Shanghai.”

From 2011-2015, Guo worked to expand the company's business in his role as international sales and business development manager Asia Pacific. He holds a master’s degree in sinology, business studies and Americanistics from the Julius-Maximilians University Würzburg, and speaks fluent German, English and Chinese.

NürnbergMesse China, which organises five events in China, has outlined plans to expand its portfolio to capitalise on German companies wanting to enter China’s market. It’s portfolio comprises: Biofach China, China Diecasting, SAE China Congress and Exhibition; International Powder and Bulk Solids Processing Conference and Exhibition; along with the E-Mobility Technology China Forum.

Ecobuild, Martin Hurn

Martin Hirn, EcoBuild
Martin Hurn, exhibition director EcoBuild

UK construction exhibition and conference Ecobuild, organised by UBM, has appointed Martin Hurn as exhibition director. Hurn has served as the UBM event’s sales director for the past three years and has an extensive background in the construction industry.

“This is a fantastic opportunity, and I’m looking forward to tailoring Ecobuild to a changing industry, providing an even more engaging experience for visitors, and working with industry partners to get the most out of the event,” Hurn said. “Construction is in an exciting place, with many sectors seeing sustained growth and we will be reflecting that in the conference and exhibition.”

Maria Kofidou, Reed Exhibitions Deutschland


Maria Kofidou, sales director, Reed Exhibitions Deutschland

In September, Maria Kofidou will take up the role of sales director at Reed Exhibitions Deutschland. Kofidou most recently served as sales and marketing director for a major German media company. She previously spent 18 years at Euroforum, a subsidiary of UK-based organiser Informa Group, where she was executive vice president sales and new business development.

“With Maria Kofidou, we’re gaining a skilled and experienced sales professional who delivers a consistently strong performance in areas ranging from sales management to the development of new customer-oriented products,” says Hans-Joachim Erbel, chief executive of Reed Exhibitions Deutschland.

Erica Blythe, ICC Sydney


Erica Blythe, director of finance and administration, ICC Sydney

AEG Ogden has completed its ICC Sydney senior management line up with the appointment of Erica Blythe as director of finance and administration. A full leadership team is now in place to guide ICC Sydney to its December 2016 opening.

Blythe joins ICC Sydney after 16 years with hotel group Accor, where she most recently spent four years as a regional financial controller overseeing business in New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory.

ICC Sydney chief executive Geoff Donaghy said the team was “tasked with opening what is undoubtedly the single most exciting project underway globally across the events industry today".

Dominique Ewert, Messe Frankfurt

Former journalist Dominique Ewert has been promoted to head of marketing communication for Messe Frankfurt’s technology and production business unit.

In her new position, Ewert will oversee communication activities for the business’s building and energy, environmental technology, safety and security, and production and engineering divisions. Ewert previously spent four years in the company’s corporate communication division, where she was responsible for preparing the company’s annual report. She succeeds Jan Bärwalde who has left the company.

 

Got an appointment or promotion to share with the global exhibition community? Email details and a head-shot to Melanie Gardiner.