By Christian Jecker, MCH Group
The Board of Directors of MCH Group and CEO René Kamm has reached the joint and mutual conclusion that the time has come for a change in the operational leadership of MCH Group in view of the fundamental transformation phase in business operations. Kamm will resign from his position as CEO of MCH Group. He will ensure a proper transfer of operations and will be at the company’s disposal over the coming months to provide advice should the need arise. Ulrich Vischer, chairman of the Board of Directors, will adopt responsibility for the Group’s operational leadership in close cooperation with the members of the Executive Board during the transition period until the appointment of a successor to Kamm.
During his nearly 20 years with MCH Group, René Kamm played a crucial role in developing the Basel trade fair and positioned the company on new foundations. “We owe a great deal to René Kamm,” said Vischer. “Not only has he decisively shaped world-renowned exhibitions such as Art Basel and Baselworld, he also recognized early on, the changes that digitalization and multi-channel concepts would bring with them and, in doing so, advanced the diversification and internationalization of MCH Group.”
Kamm began his career in 1999 as the director of Baselworld, which he turned into the most important international trade fair in the watch and jewelry segment. He transformed the purely national trade fair company into an international group, placed the focus on collectors’ exhibitions, and added Live Marketing Solutions and Event Services such as those offered by the MC2 company acquired just over a year ago in den USA, to the corporate offering. “I have experienced close to 20 exciting years with Basel Exhibition, Swiss Exhibition and MCH Group,” said Kamm. “I had the opportunity to get to know every aspect of this segment and, as CEO from 2003 on, drive the group’s development from a nationally aligned trade fair company to an internationally aligned Live Marketing Group.”
Questions concerning the development of MCH Group’s financial results
On July 29, Swatch Group announced its decision not to participate in the Baselworld 2019, a decision MCH Group deeply regrets. Although it does not generally question the continuation of the Baselworld trade fair, the withdrawal of this important exhibitor has led to questions concerning the consequences for MCH Group’s results.
The responsible for Baselworld are engaged in intensive exchange with major segment representatives and have created a solid basis for a successful Baselworld 2019 in the form of conception innovations. The decision by Swatch Group not to participate in Baselworld 2019 will have an effect on the results for 2019 that are as yet inestimable.
The question here is whether an additional value adjustment on the exhibition premises in Basel will be necessary. As stated in a communication from February 2018, this depends on the future utilization of the exhibition premises’ capacity and the success of the events it hosts. The corresponding estimation is subject to continuous review.
MCH Group is currently engaged in a transformation process during which it is adapting its alignment to future requirements of the classic trade fair and events business. It will continue to pursue the corporate strategy of expanding its range of services, strengthening its international presence and increasing digitization as a matter of principle. MCH is confident that strategy implementation will be successful. The intention is to bring the strategic initiatives launched in recent years to successful completion to compensate for the market-driven downturns in the classic trade fair and event business.
MCH Group will publish information about the half-year results for 2018 on 4 September 2018 and will then be able to provide further information with regard to the expected development of results.
