UFI 2007 General Assembly Ratifies New Members, New UFI Approved Events and 2008 Presidential Trio

At its 2007 General Assembly in Versailles, France, members ratified the acceptance of 38 new members into UFI, the Global Association of the Exhibition industry. With this increase UFI has more than doubled its international membership in 5 years time.

The Annual General Assembly, presided by Jochen Witt, welcomed these new members and recognized the professional quality of an additional 37 exhibitions as UFI Approved events.

UFI members welcomed the association’s 2008/2009 leadership structure, led by Cliff Wallace (Managing Director, Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre – HKCEC) as its new President for the one year term.

The choice of Wallace as UFI President marks the first time that a leader from the venue management side of the industry has been selected for this leadership position. It is also the first time that a representative of an Asian UFI member is named to this position. UFI’s Board of Directors has announced the election of John Shaw, CEO of COMEXPO, (Paris) as their Incoming UFI President (2008/2009). In their capacity as UFI Executive Vice-Presidents during the coming 2008/2009 term, Shaw and Witt will provide continuity and support to Cliff Wallace.

The UFI Presidential term of one year builds on a three year UFI Presidential cycle: one year as Incoming-President (Executive Vice- President), one year as incumbent President, and one year as Past-President (Executive Vice-President).