UFI, The global association for exhibition organisers, exhibition centre operators and selected exhibition industry suppliers, have annouced the appointment of the executive team who will lead the group for 2011 at the closing ceremony of the UFI Congress last week in Singapore.   

UFI’s board of Directors has announced the association’s 2011 executive trio will consist of Eric Everard (Executive Chairman EasyFairs Group, Belgium) as President, outgoing 2010 UFI President Manfred Wutzlhofer (Past Chairman Messe München GmbH, Germany) and Incoming 2011 UFI President, Dr. Arie Brienen CA (CEO Jaarbeurs Holding, Utrecht).

UFI’s 2010/2011 Presidential trio Arie Brienen: UFI President 2012 Eric Everard: UFI President 2011
Manfred Wutzlhofer: UFI President 2010

In their capacity as UFI executive Vice-Presidents during the coming 2010/2011 term, Wutzlhofer and Brienen will provide continuity and support to UFI President Eric Everard. The UFI Presidential term of one year builds on a three year UFI Presidential cycle: one year as Incoming-President (Executive Vice-President), one year as incumbent President, and one year as Past-President (Executive Vice-President).

Eric Everard, at 46, is one of the youngest Presidents in UFI’s 85 year history and an innovative entrepreneur in the trade show world. Everard identified his key objective at UFI as one of communications aimed at demonstrating the value of exhibitions and trade shows as the strongest direct marketing tool available. 

“We like to say that marketing doesn’t get any more direct than a trade show. 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,” Everard commented.

UFI’s main goal is to represent, promote and support the business interests of its members and the exhibition industry. It represents over 550 member organisations in 84 countries around the world. Almost 900 international trade fairs proudly bear the UFI approved label, a quality guarantee for visitors and exhibitors alike.