Messe Luzern Management Team Welcomes New CEO and a Fresh Outside Perspective

Effective July 1, 2026, Fabienne Meyerhans took over as CEO of Messe Luzern. The new Messe Luzern executive team will be completed in October with the addition of Noëlle Bucher, who will be responsible for the trade shows division. Silvan Auf der Maur remains the third member of the team, responsible for events and operations.

Fabienne Meyerhans will thus succeed Markus Lauber, as had already been announced at the Luga opening in April 2026. Both Meyerhans and Auf der Maur have been members of the executive board of Messe Luzern for more than ten years and therefore bring a deep understanding of the company to their roles.

Noëlle Bucher Joins the Management Team at Messe Luzern

Noëlle Bucher is currently the department secretary of the Department of Health and Social Affairs of the Canton of Lucerne, a position she has held for about five years. Starting in mid-October 2026, the 40-year-old Lucerne native will serve as a member of the executive board at Messe Luzern, where she will be responsible for the trade shows division.

Bucher studied social and communication sciences at the University of Lucerne and worked for several years at Interface Politikstudien. She also has firsthand experience with political processes: she served as a member of the Lucerne City Council, chair of the Social Affairs Committee, and a member of the Lucerne Cantonal Council.

Urs Hunkeler, Chairman of the Board of Directors, emphasizes the added value of bringing in an outside candidate: «It was important to us to supplement the executive team—in addition to our long-standing members—with someone from outside our company. Noëlle brings valuable new perspectives and experience to the table.»

CEO Fabienne Meyerhans adds: «With Noëlle, we are gaining someone who is an excellent fit for Messe Luzern, both professionally and personally. She has extensive experience in leadership and project management, is deeply rooted in the region, and has a broad network.»

Noëlle Bucher herself is looking forward to her new role: «Messe Luzern is an important hub for business, society, and politics. I’m excited to contribute my experience and work with the team to help shape the future of Messe Luzern.»

Succession Plan Finalized

With Noëlle Bucher joining the company in mid-October 2026, the succession plan for Messe Luzern will be finalized and the executive board will once again be fully staffed. Fabienne Meyerhans is confident about the tasks ahead: «Together with the team, I want to continue positioning Messe Luzern as a trusted partner for mobilizing and strengthening markets and industries.»

For more information about the Lucerne Trade Fair, visit https://www.messeluzern.ch.

There will be changes and innovations in the management of Messe Luzern AG from March 2024. Luzia Roos-Bättig has worked for Messe Luzern since 2013 - for many years as Exhibition Director for Luga and Suisse Tier and most recently as a member of the Executive Board and Head of the Exhibitions division. Luzia Roos-Bättig will end her professional career in mid-2025.

In the interests of timely succession planning, she has handed over her responsibilities in the area of trade fairs. As a member of the Executive Board and Head of Strategic Projects, she will continue to focus on developing new business areas. Fabienne Meyerhans takes over the Exhibitions division Fabienne Meyerhans will succeed her as Head of Exhibitions from March 2024. The Lucerne native has worked for Messe Luzern AG in various roles since 2006, including as Exhibition Director for a medical technology trade fair. Over the past ten years, she has been responsible for marketing and communication and has been a member of the Executive Board since 2016.

Nuot A. Lietha strengthens the management team

Nuot A. will take over as Head of Marketing and Communication from March 2024. Lietha. He will also join the Executive Board in this role. Lietha completed a law degree and then moved into marketing and communications, where he worked as head of communications and media spokesperson, among other things. In his last position at a health insurance company, he was responsible for digital marketing products.

The Executive Board of Messe Luzern AG is made up of Markus Lauber, Chairman of the Executive Board, Silvan Auf der Maur, Head of Guest Events and Operations, Nuot A. Lietha, Head of Marketing and Communication, Fabienne Meyerhans, Head of Exhibitions and Luzia Roos-Bättig, Head of Strategic Projects.

Yannick Blätter new member of the Board of Directors

There will also be an addition to the Board of Directors of Messe Luzern AG. From the end of March 2024, Yannick Blättler will contribute his expertise to the Board of Directors. Yannick Blätter is 30 years old and CEO and founder of Neoviso AG. Thanks to its own market research department, the management consultancy from Kriens focuses on young generations and supports organizations in strategic and communicative matters. Yannick Blätter will be officially elected at the Annual General Meeting in September 2024. The Board of Directors of Messe Luzern AG is made up of Urs Hunkeler, Chairman of the Board of Directors, Karin Auf der Maur, Yannick Blätter, Andreas Felder and Markus Lauber.

Messe Luzern organizes eleven trade and public exhibitions as well as two conferences. At the same time, the operator of the Lucerne Exhibition Center rents out its infrastructure and offers services for events of all kinds. It positions itself as the first port of call for trade fairs, corporate and customer events, general meetings, congresses and conferences.
In view of the constant change in the trade fair world, which is strongly based on relationships and encounters, and the dynamic development of the industry, the company recognized the need to reposition its brand. This process was initiated in collaboration with the Hi Schweiz agency.

Transformation process for a modern trade fair experience

Hi Schweiz supported the company in developing a new visual and communicative image. The aim was to align the brand, which is firmly anchored in the region, with the current brand behavior. The agency retained the core elements, developed them further and combined them with new components to make the brand more digital and approachable.

The lettering and logo elements have a new dynamic design and meet the requirements of a modern corporate design. The clear positioning of the individual communication measures and the self-confident appearance form the core. A holistic communication concept coordinated with the design is intended to make the messages and services of the trade fair visible.

The revised brand identity will be implemented over the course of the year.