Harting elected AUMA chairman for the third time

25.06.2025

The General Assembly of the association of the german trade fair industry AUMA voted for a novelty this Tuesday in Berlin: AUMA chairman, Philip Harting (50), has been elected for a third term of three years.

Harting has been chairman of the leading industry association since 2019. This followed the request of the entire Board of Directors and members at last year's General Assembly to allow for a further term of office after Harting was only able to serve one term during full trade fair operations due to the pandemic. The election by the 67 members was unanimous. Harting takes up his third term of office today.

Philip Harting: "I am immensely honoured by the trust placed in me by AUMA members. In my coming term of office, I also want to strengthen Germany as the number one trade fair country wherever I can. We have a strong reputation to defend worldwide, but here in Germany we must do even more to ensure that the jewel that is Germany as a trade fair venue is recognised as a treasure."

Charlotte Finger (37), who represents the trade fair-orientated association for the machinery and equipment manufacturing industry (VDMA), was also newly elected to the AUMA Board of Directors. Her main job is managing partner of Maschinenfabrik Mönninghoff in Bochum and Chemnitzer Zahnradfabrik in Chemnitz. Both companies are leading technology partners in the field of propulsion technology and they develop and manufacture customised solutions for a wide range of industries.

Hermann Giesser (IVSH and managing director of Johannes Giesser Messerfabrik), Thomas Kaeser (VDMA and chairman of Kaeser Kompressoren), Oliver P. Kuhrt (managing director of Messe Essen), Wolfgang Marzin (chairman of the Management Board of Messe Frankfurt), Andreas Müller (ZVEI and managing partner of Doepke Schaltgeräte), Peter Ottmann (CEO of NürnbergMesse), Reinhard Pfeiffer (managing director of Messe München ) were also re-elected to the Board of Directors.

The Board of Directors of the AUMA consists of up to 22 honorary members. It is made up of representatives from industry, trade and commerce as well as trade fair organisers. The chairman is elected by the General Assembly. The Board as a whole elects two deputy chairpersons from among its members. The AUMA chairman and his second deputy (currently Klaus Kremers, Paradies, Neukirchen-Vluyn) have to belong to the exhibiting industry, the first deputy (currently Peter Ottmann, NürnbergMesse) has to belong to an exhibition organisation. All persons are elected to the honorary office for three years.