VALVE WORLD EXPO has announced a leadership transition, with Gunnar Ahrens taking over as Director on July 1, 2025, following the retirement of Friedrich-Georg Kehrer.
Kehrer steps down after many successful years leading the exhibition, leaving behind a strong legacy in the valve industry. His tenure helped establish VALVE WORLD EXPO as a premier international trade event for the sector.
Ahrens brings extensive experience from within Messe Düsseldorf GmbH, where he has worked since 2016. As a Senior Project Manager, he has been involved with several world-leading trade fairs, including wire and Tube, TBWOM, and VALVE WORLD EXPO itself. His international experience includes a role as Director of Projects at Messe Düsseldorf’s subsidiary in New Delhi.
Most recently, Ahrens served as Sales Development Specialist, where he played a key role in establishing new sales structures for the organization. This appointment demonstrates Messe Düsseldorf’s strategy of promoting proven internal talent to drive growth in strategic markets.
The leadership change positions VALVE WORLD EXPO to continue its success under experienced management while bringing fresh perspectives to the industry’s leading trade exhibition.