Wolfram Diener, Messe Düsseldorf CEO, brings 30+ years' exhibition leadership and Asian market expertise to his role as UFI’s incoming 2026–2027 president.
UFI, the global association for the exhibition industry has named Wolfram Diener as its incoming president for the 2026-2027 term.
Diener is president & CEO of Messe Düsseldorf Group, a role he has held since July 2020. He currently serves as treasurer on the UFI Executive Committee and sits on the UFI Board of Directors.
Diener has more than three decades of leadership experience in the global exhibitions industry, and has contributed significantly to shaping Asia’s trade fair landscape in key leadership roles at UBM Asia (now Informa Markets), Venetian Macau, Marina Bay Sands Singapore, the Shanghai New International Expo Centre and Messe Frankfurt. Since joining Messe Düsseldorf’s Executive Board in 2018, he has been driving the company’s international growth strategy.
He will join the UFI ‘presidential trio’ as incoming president this November, and will become president in November 2026 at the 93rd UFI Global Congress in Bahrain. As UFI’s incoming President, Wolfram Diener will work closely with the President and Outgoing President as part of the Presidential Trio, managing UFI at the highest level and furthering UFI’s mission to connect, support and promote the exhibition industry around the world.f
The UFI ‘presidential trio’ for the November 2025-November 2026 term includes Panittha Buri, vice-chairperson, Bhiraj Buri Group and president, Hugh Jones, CEO, RX and outgoing president and Diener.
Diener said: “I am honoured to take on the UFI presidency at a time of global challenges – not only as a representative of our industry, but as someone deeply convinced of its power to connect, inspire and enable progress. We must be present where the economy needs us most: in emerging markets and at the crossroads of global exchange.”
Hugh Jones, UFI president, added: “Wolfram brings an extraordinary depth of leadership experience from one of the most successful and globally respected exhibition organizations. Under his guidance, Messe Düsseldorf has seen remarkable international expansion, strategic innovation, and sustained growth. His deep industry knowledge, global perspective, and forward-thinking vision make him exceptionally well placed to help steer the future of our industry.”