Petra Lassahn worked in the trade fair business since 1987, he since 1990. She started out in Cologne, worked for Blenheim and Miller Freeman, then moved to Messe Frankfurt and finally joined Reed Exhibitions in Düsseldorf in 2006. His path in the world of exhibitions took him from Frankfurt to the toy fair in Nuremberg all the way to Düsseldorf. Here, at the Germany headquarters of the world’s largest trade fair company, he’s served as press and corporate spokesman since 2003.

Now Petra Lassahn (47) and Dr. Mike Seidensticker (52) are moving up and join the extended management team of Reed Exhibitions Deutschland as authorised representatives. “Both enjoy an excellent reputation in the international exhibition and media business and have been leaders in our organisation for years”, says Hans-Joachim Erbel, CEO of Reed Exhibitions Deutschland GmbH. They’ll take on their new functions in addition their existing duties.

Serving as division manager, Petra Lassahn has since 2006 been responsible for viscom, which alternates locations between Frankfurt and Düsseldorf. Under her leadership, the event has developed into the most important trade fair for visual communication in Europe. At the same time, she heads the management team for the Bar Convent Berlin, Europe’s largest bar show, which was acquired by Reed Exhibitions earlier this year. Before that, the Siegburg native had for many years managed IMA, the International Trade Fair for Amusement and Vending Machines.

According to Hans-Joachim Erbel, Mike Seidensticker has managed to build up one of the most effective communication departments in the international trade fair business, covering the traditional and the new media world equally well. He succeeded in continuously enhancing this presence and endowing the brand with a distinctive human face. Appointing him to an executive position is aimed at further expanding the company’s strategic brand communication and emphasising more strongly the media value of trade fair participations.

Hosting more than 500 trade fairs around the globe, Reed Exhibitions is the leading trade fair company worldwide. In Germany, Reed Exhibitions organises such top international trade fairs as FIBO, EQUITANA, ALUMINIUM, PSI and viscom.