Udo Traeger: CV
Professional Career
2018 Partner of 2bdifferent
Sustainability consultancy for the MICE Industry
2013 Visiting Lecturer at Cooperative State University Baden-Wuerttemberg, Mannheim
Exhibition Management
2012 Owner Exhibition Doctors
Senior Exhibition Consultant
2003 – 2012 Koelnmesse GmbH, Köln
Vice President Furniture, Interior Design and Textiles
Responsible for strategy, marketing concept, budget, profit/loss, sales, PR, communication, organization and operations, key account management, sponsorships, > 20 employees. Managed the following shows:
imm cologne, Cologne, (annual)
World leading furnishing show
- This show was in bad shape when it was taken over. The subsequent turnaround achieved elevated the show's status to that of leading industry trade fair
- Results for the successful turnaround of imm cologne:
- Increase in visitors and exhibitors (in 2011: 10% more exhibitors and 38% more visitors)
- Extremely positive feedback in the trade and public press
- Attracted top retailers from Europe and overseas
- Received top scores in exhibitor and visitor appraisals
- Generated higher turnover and profit
interzum, Cologne, (biennial)
World leading trade show for furniture supply and interior decoration
At the time of takeover, the show was experiencing a strong downturn. The turnaround achieved resulted in:
- Over 10% increase in exhibitor and visitor numbers
- Higher turnover and profit
- Excellent coverage in press and media
- Excellent results in exhibitor and visitor inquiries
imb, Cologne, (triennial)
Leading European trade fair for garment manufacturing and textile processing
- Successfully relaunched the show
- Added new product segments such as technical textiles processing and IT
- Achieved new co-operations with international garment associations
- Implemented new visitor marketing in cooperation with the exhibitors
- Introduced a new conference program which attracted high attendance
interzum Guangzhou, China (annual)
Trade show for furniture supply and interior decoration
- Negotiated and successfully completed a joint venture contract with Chinese partners
- Successfully launched the show
- Profitability achieved
- Market leadership from the onset
interzum Moscow, Russia (biennial)
- Researched the market and searched for a local partner
- Negotiated and completed joint venture contract with Russian trade show organizer
- Successfully premiered the show, the first for Koelnmesse in Russia
- Profitable from the onset and market leadership
2001 – 2003 Frankfurt Bookfair, Frankfurt
Director Marketing and Sales. > 20 employees
- Responsible for the entire promotion, marketing and sales operations
- Headed global activities and overseas offices of the bookfair
- Planned and coordinated more than 30 overseas participations
- Led the national and international sales organization
- Profit / loss responsibility for all international activities
- Developed new international events and cutlural projects
1992 – 2001 Messe Frankfurt GmbH, Frankfurt
Director Technical/Textile Fairs Global
- Initiated, planned and operated trade shows in Asia, the Americas, Eastern Europe and North Africa
- Launched the first shows of Messe Frankfurt in China, Turkey, Egypt, Russia, Lithuania, Argentina and India
- Successfully launched the entire China portfolio of Messe Frankfurt, including Intertextile, Automechanika China, ISH China and others
- Profit / loss responsibility, marketing concept, business plan, searching and contracting local partner organizations
Education
Languages
English: fluent
French: good
Chinese: fair
Spanish: fair
