CEO Nicolo Paganini leaves Olma Messen
A big surprise: After nine years as director, Nicolo Paganini is leaving Olma Messen St. Gallen at his own request, effective May 31, 2020.
After several record years, Olma Messen St.Gallen is also feeling the effects of the increasingly challenging market environment. But Nicolo Paganini has not rested on the "natural" prerequisites for success of the player Olma Messen.
The flagship Olma is the most successful public trade fair in Switzerland, which was even able to increase visitor numbers to 360,000 in 2019. With the flagship fairs Olma, Tier&Technik and OFFA and guest events at CongressEvents St.Gallen, the Olma Messen company is well positioned.
New hall 1
Perhaps Nicolo Paganini's greatest success is not far behind: with a record-breaking approval of almost three quarters of the electorate and with a unanimous yes from the Cantonal Council, the new Hall 1 construction project (Fig.) was accepted. The building permits for the freeway overlay, the demolition of Hall 1 and the construction of the temporary office building have been issued. The contract with the Federal Roads Office ASTRA and the city of St.Gallen for the realization of the freeway overlay has been signed.
Digital extension of the trade fair
Together with the competitor Messe Luzern, with the digital platform Farmtech.plus set a sign for the transformation or expansion of the successful physical trade fair "Tier&Technik". The "digital meeting points" in cooperation with Messe Luzern and Messe Friedrichshafen are among the most innovative digital trade fair projects in Europe.
Nicolo Paganini lets it be known in the press release that the demands on a National Councilor and on a CEO of Olma Messen had led to his resignation. "The now following realization phase and the marketing of the new Hall 1 require a manager who can fully dedicate himself to Olma Messen," the departing director states. "In addition to the conscientious exercise of my National Council mandate, which the people of St.Gallen entrusted to me in October 2019 for another four years, these demands could not be fully met in the long term. Our approximately 80 employees and our customers are entitled to a director who is available on site."
"Nicolo Paganini has carried out the tasks as Director of Olma Messen St.Gallen with a great deal of heart and above-average commitment over the past nine years. His diverse professional experience and broad network have been of great benefit to our company," says Thomas Scheitlin, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Olma Messen St.Gallen.
