2018 International Exhibition Industry CEO Shanghai Summit: Guest and Content Introduction, Part Two

The 2018 International Exhibition Industry CEO Shanghai Summit will be held from June 21 to 22, 2018, at the InterContinental Shanghai National Exhibition and Convention Center. High-level discussions will focus on three sections: Topic One, Belt and Road, new elements of exhibition industry globalization; Topic Two, bringing in and going global, exhibition industry with Chinese characteristics in the new era; and Topic Three, globalization of exhibition enterprises.

The following introduces the guests and content for Topic Two: bringing in and going global, exhibition industry with Chinese characteristics in the new era.

Zhong Gang, president of VNU Exhibitions Asia and UFI Asia-Pacific Chapter chair

Moderator for Topic Two. Zhong Gang has been engaged in exhibition organization since 1991. In 1993, he founded Shanghai Qilong Exhibition Service Co., Ltd. and served as general manager. In 2001, he established Shanghai VNU Exhibitions Co., Ltd. as a joint venture with Royal Dutch Jaarbeurs and served as managing director. Since 2007, he has served as president. During this period, he has led his team in creating and operating many internationally renowned branded exhibitions, such as DOMOTEX asia CHINAFLOOR, R+T Asia and Pet Fair Asia. Several projects have received the titles of Shanghai Branded Exhibition and Shanghai Excellent Exhibition.

Kai Hattendorf, managing director and CEO of UFI

Speech topic: Global Exhibition Industry Report. Kai Hattendorf has served as managing director and CEO of UFI since 2015. Before that, he had worked in the exhibition industry for many years and held senior management positions at Messe Frankfurt's global headquarters. At this summit, he will use a range of data to share with participants the development of the exhibition industry in different regions of the world over the past period.

Sun Chenghai, deputy director-general of the China International Import Expo Bureau

Speech topic: Belt and Road and the China International Import Expo. Sun Chenghai is deputy director-general of the China International Import Expo Bureau and chairman of National Exhibition and Convention Center Shanghai Co., Ltd. He holds an International MBA from Peking University. In May 2017, China announced that it would hold the China International Import Expo starting in 2018, attracting global attention. At this summit, Sun will give participants an in-depth introduction to the CIIE, including its background, significance, preparation progress, cooperation methods and other issues of concern.

Discussion: dialogue between expo bureau directors and international CEOs

Discussion guests include Albert Arp, chief executive officer of the VNU Group; Cai Qiao, director of the Haikou Convention and Exhibition Bureau; Qiu Jianping, director of the Hangzhou Convention and Exhibition Office; Shi Mingze, chairman of Tarsus Group China; Wang Qiongwen, director of the Xiamen Convention and Exhibition Affairs Bureau; and Wang Guohong, Asia chairman of ITE.

Guests in this discussion session include heads of convention and exhibition authorities from Chinese cities and senior managers from international multinational exhibition groups. Discussion will focus on the bringing-in and going-global development of China's exhibition industry. Participants will share the development of the exhibition industry and support policies in different cities, identify what support they most hope to receive from government, and discuss the feasibility of replicating mature domestic exhibition projects overseas and transplanting foreign projects with established brands and influence into China, in order to accelerate the internationalization of China's exhibition industry.

Joe Popolo, chief executive officer of Freeman

Speech topic: How to innovate and transplant exhibitions, conferences and events in international markets. Freeman has more than 7,000 employees worldwide, more than 90 offices and business operations around the world. As CEO of Freeman, Joe Popolo will share the company's experience in global deployment at this summit, including which projects can be replicated and what conditions are necessary for successfully replicating projects.

Sandy Angus, chairman of Montgomery

Speech topic: International exhibition enterprises going to Africa. Sandy Angus is chairman of Angus Montgomery Ltd. He has also served as president of UFI and chairman of the Association of Event Organisers in the United Kingdom. The Montgomery Group owns exhibition organization, exhibition management and exhibition consulting companies, and its exhibitions are currently active in about ten countries. Angus provides consulting services to United Nations agencies, the European Union and other clients of exhibition consulting companies. He has extensive experience in marketing, market research, public promotion and registration systems. At this summit, he will share experience and lessons for multinational exhibition enterprises organizing exhibitions abroad, especially in complex regions such as Africa, where economic development is uneven and exhibition infrastructure is insufficient.

Discussion: management export for exhibition venues

Moderator: Michael, general manager of Shanghai New International Expo Centre. Discussion guests include Monica Lee-Mueller, managing director of the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre; Li Yong, president of the Sichuan Conference and Exhibition Industry Association; Tracey Short, vice president for China of SMG; and Tang Xue, general manager of Hangzhou International Expo Center.

The moderator and guests in this discussion session are operators or senior consultants of large exhibition venues from around the world with extensive venue management experience. As exhibition venues are large fixed assets, owners and operators are often not the same team. The discussion will focus on how exhibition venues can export international services, how professional exhibition venue operating teams can provide cross-border operating services, and how to build international brands for exhibition venues.

For further information about the summit, please visit the official website at www.shanghaisummit.org. You may also follow the summit's WeChat account by scanning the QR code to receive the latest updates. We look forward to your presence.

Shanghai Convention and Exhibition Industries Association
Tel: +86-21-38452013
Fax: +86-21-38452002
Email: roy.luo@sceia.com.cn; vky_xu@sceia.com.cn