ProWein names head of wine and spirits

Marius Berlemann has been named ProWein’s new global head of wine and spirits, taking over from fair organiser Messe Düsseldorf’s executive director, Michael Degen.

Michael Degan with Marius Berlemann

Degen, executive director and board member of Messe Düsseldorf, has acted as interim manager for its wine and spirits portfolio since 2012. As of 1 March, Berlemann will take over, assuming responsibility for ProWein’s global portfolio of wine and spirits events holding the title global head of wine and spirits.

Before joining Messe Düsseldorf, the 30-year old completed a master’s degree in general management at the Witten/Herdecke University in Germany.

Berlemann joined Messe Düsseldorf as a trainee in 2010, becoming a senior project manager in 2012. In this position he was in charge of growing the ProWein family in China (Shanghai) and South East Asia (Singapore).

In his new role Berlemann will report to Degen, who has overall responsibility for ProWein, as well as a number of other international trade fairs.

ProWein was founded in 1994 with 321 exhibitors and approx. 1,500 visitors. It has since grown to attract some 6,000 exhibitors to its last fair in March from some 50 countries, and 52,000 visitors from the wine and spirits trade. Since 2012 exhibition space of ProWein has increased by 54% and visitor attendance by 28%.

The company launched ProWine China in Shanghai in 2013, and will extend its Asian footprint to launch ProWine Asia in Singapore in April.

The next ProWein in Düsseldorf will be held from 13 to 15 March 2016.