UBM Asia Makes Two Senior Appointments

September 4, 2011

UBM Asia named Wolfram Diener as senior vice president, effective Nov. 1, and Zhang Xue Qiang as managing director of Shanghai UBM Sinoexpo International Exhibition Co Ltd (UBM Sinoexpo), effective Sept. 9.

As part of his new appointment, Wolfram will join the company’s board of directors and be responsible for driving UBM Asia’s fast-growing business in Shanghai (UBM Sinoexpo and UBM China), Beijing and Hangzhou and will report to Jimé Essink, president and CEO of UBM Asia.

Wolfram also will lead the company’s jewelry portfolio that includes exhibitions in Hong Kong, China, Japan, India and Turkey, such as the September Hong Kong Jewellery & Gem Fair; print titles, such as Jewellery News Asia (English and Chinese editions); and jewelry portal sites, like JewelleryNetAsia.com.

In addition, he also will be responsible for the development of UBM Asia’s eBiz and on-line products.

Wolfram has more than 18 years experience working in the exhibition industry and began his career when he joined Hamburg Messe in 1993 and hosted Chinese delegations visiting Hamburg.

He joined Messe Frankfurt in 1998 as managing director for trade shows in Asia and established the Shanghai Office of Messe Frankfurt in 2001.

He was appointed general manager of the Shanghai New International Expo Centre Company (SNIEC) in 2002. In 2005, he joined The Venetian in Macau as vice president, convention and exhibitions.

Xue Qiang will succeed Wang Ming Liang in his new position at UBM Sinoexpo, which is based in China and has a portfolio of exhibitions, print and online products.

Xue Qiang has 25 years of experience in the China exhibition industry and started with Shanghai International Exhibition Co of CCPIT in 1986.

In 1995, he was appointed Shanghai Representative of Hannover Messe International and joined Shanghai Sinoexpo in 1997 as deputy general manager with responsibilities for operations and events, such as Hotelex.

He was the vice president, Greater China & Reed Huayin of Reed Exhibitions from 2005 to 2008, and in 2008, he joined VNU Exhibitions Asia as managing director.

"I am delighted with the appointment of these two senior management executives,” Essink said. “UBM Asia has been developing very rapidly for the last three years and this is a hugely exciting time for our fast-growing business.”

He added, “With their wealth of exhibition experience, Wolfram and Xue Qiang will ensure we are well placed to accelerate our growth and to take advantage of the many opportunities we see. Wolfram is a valuable addition to the already experienced Board of UBM Asia. Xue Qiang’s intimate knowledge of the China market and the company make him the ideal candidate to lead UBM Sinoexpo and a worthy successor to Wang Ming Liang."

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