Together with hundreds of guests on the Düsseldorf fairground, Joachim Schäfer celebrated his retirement fairwell party. After 12 successful years, the multi-talented Schäfer is leaving the stage and also GIFA.
In his farewell speech, Werner M. Dornscheidt, President & CEO of Messe Düsseldorf GmbH described Schäfer as being skilled in all levels of exhibition business in more than twenty years in the USA. Consistently pragmatic, targeted, unconventional if necessary, and always in a fair manner. Joachim Schäfer is still intensely interested in many topics, obviously a reason to stay youthful, so we are not worrying about his future with his family.
Schäfer is wished good luck and many thanks for the great cooperation with the GIFA-Team on behalf of the foundry representatives!
Joachim Schäfer will be succeeded by Mr. Wolfram Diener (54), starting on October 1st, whose responsibilities will also include the division Metals and Flow Technologies (GIFA, THERMPROCESS, NEWCAST, Pump Summit, Valve World Expo, METEC, wire, Tube).
Thomas Geisel (Mayor of Düsseldorf and Supervisor of the Board and shareholders) agreed that Wolfram Diener is the optimal successor to Joachim Schäfer in both personal and professional terms, and stands for a clear, operative strategy, sustainable positioning of trade fairs, and digital transformation.