Christian Vorländer takes over as head of the Mobility division at Messe München

On 1 July 2025, Christian Vorländer will join the management team at Messe München as the new Executive Director and take over as head of the Mobility division. In this role, he will be responsible for the strategic direction and further development of this key area. In this role, Vorländer will head a division that is of particular importance to Messe München and attracts a great deal of attention both economically and politically. The position of Head of Mobility is closely linked to leading international events and future topics in the mobility industry. With this change, Messe München is relying on a leader who brings together different perspectives. Christian Vorländer contributes legal expertise, experience in local politics and detailed knowledge of the trade fair industry. This combination is considered an important prerequisite for further developing the Mobility division in a dynamic market environment and positioning it for the long term.

Experience in law, politics and the trade fair industry

Christian Vorländer has been working as a solicitor since 2003 and was a member of Munich City Council until 2025. There, he focused on economic, infrastructure and location issues. This experience in local politics shapes his understanding of the framework conditions under which major events are planned and implemented. From 2020 to 2025, Vorländer was also a member of the Supervisory Board of Messe München, where he was already involved in strategic decision-making processes. Through this role, he has first-hand knowledge of the internal structures, processes and challenges of the trade fair company. He resigned from the Supervisory Board before taking up his position as division manager in order to ensure a clear separation between supervisory and operational responsibilities. This arrangement is seen as an advantage internally, as Vorländer can take on responsibility without a long familiarisation phase.

Focus on future mobility and international networking

One of the main focuses of his new role is the further development of IAA MOBILITY. Since its relaunch, the event has been regarded as an international platform for future mobility and addresses topics such as sustainable drive systems, urban mobility concepts and digital networking. The aim is to further sharpen the content of IAA MOBILITY and expand its international reach. Christian Vorländer will take on a strategic role in this regard. Christine von Breitenbuch will remain in charge of the operational management of IAA MOBILITY, while Vorländer will report directly to Co-CEO Stefan Rummel. This division of responsibilities is intended to ensure that strategic management and operational implementation remain clearly separated. At the same time, it opens up scope for new collaborations and formats that are intended to strengthen the Mobility division in the long term.

Strategic importance of the Mobility business unit

The Mobility business unit is one of Messe München's key growth drivers. Mobility issues are the focus of economic, social and political debates worldwide. For trade fair companies, this means creating platforms that not only showcase products, but also facilitate dialogue and provide guidance. In this context, the head of the Mobility division plays a key role. Christian Vorländer will be responsible for bringing together various players from industry, politics and society. This involves not only traditional trade fair formats, but also new event and dialogue concepts. Messe München aims to further expand its role as an internationally networked location and establish mobility as a strategic theme.

Strengthening Messe München in the mobility sector

The management of Messe München expressly welcomes the decision. In Christian Vorländer, they are relying on a personality who combines legal expertise, political experience and strong communication skills. These qualities are considered crucial for further developing the Mobility division in an increasingly complex environment. Messe München is one of the world's leading trade fair companies and organises more than 150 trade fairs, congresses and events every year. The Mobility division plays a special role in this, as it attracts international attention and acts as an interface between different industries. With a strong international network and high visibility, Messe München continues to see considerable growth potential in this segment.

Outlook

With Christian Vorländer as the new Head of Mobility, Messe München is strategically positioning itself for the challenges ahead. The combination of experience, local roots in Munich and international orientation should contribute to the sustainable further development of the business segment. The decisive factors will be how existing formats can be further refined and what new impulses will be set in the coming years.