Hannover -- Deutsche Messe AG is responding to the ongoing challenges face the trade show industry and has used the past few months to reorganize. This includes changes in leadership for Ligna and other shows.

During the reorganization, the organizational structure was set up into four business units, including Trade Fair & Product Management and Sales. The overall management and strategic orientation of the trade fair portfolio of Ligna, Interschutz, parts2clean and SurfaceTechnology Germany is now part of Trade Fair & Product Management and will be overseen by Hendrik Engelking.

Christian Pfeiffer, previously Global Director Ligna & Woodworking Shows, will be responsible for the Sales Division as Senior Vice President. This business unit will be responsible for customer acquisition for Deutsche Messe AG's entire trade fair portfolio.

Stephanie Wagner, the new head of Ligna, will be responsible for the project and thus for the content and operational management of the trade fair for the woodworking and wood processing industry. She has been with Deutsche Messe AG for more than ten years and was most recently Ligna project director. Wagner has been appointed head of Ligna retroactive from Dec. 1, 2021.

"We are delighted that in Ms. Wagner, an extremely experienced colleague, is filling this strategically important position," said Engelking. "She is a familiar face in the wood industry and will continue the successful cooperation with our exhibitors, partners and customers."

"After a long period of an empty trade fair calendar and online-only formats, we are looking forward more than ever to finally being able to offer presence platforms again with Ligna 2023 and with the Ligna Conference this summer. We all really missed the personal exchange and networking on site," said Stephanie Wagner.

The next Ligna will be held from May 15 to 19, 2023. Exhibitors can register now in the Ligna shop.

Before this, the 1st Rosenheim Ligna Conference will be held on June 1 and 2, 2022. The event is being organized by Deutsche Messe in conjunction with Rosenheim Technical University of Applied Sciences, the world-renowned educational institution for the new generation of highly qualified professionals in the fields of wood technology.