Messe Berlin: IFA boss Jens Heithecker must go

Messe Berlin has relieved IFA CEO Jens Heithecker of his position as Executive Director of IFA with immediate effect. According to unanimous reports in various media, differences are said to have arisen over the orientation of the UE trade show, which is why Heithecker must vacate his post.

Jens Heithecker fired: IFA boss must go

For more than 20 years, Jens Heithecker worked for Messe Berlin and was most recently the face of IFA as executive producer. But there has been radio silence between the organizer and gfu (Gesellschaft zur Förderung der Unterhaltungselektronik) for weeks, as reported by the Berliner Morgenpost. The future of IFA remains uncertain.

It is also reported that Heithecker continues to maintain close ties with the former head of Messe Berlin, Christian Göke, who had already left the company at the end of 2020. He is said to have been leaked insider information, which was revealed last week.

According to the Berliner Morgenpost, Heithecker deleted the corresponding e-mail correspondence, but the IT department of Messe Berlin was able to secure evidence and relieved Jens Heithecker of his position last Thursday.

Currently, Berlin apparently still has a contract to host IFA in 2022 and 2023, and a decision on a new contract starting in 2024 is expected soon. Following the problems, the location could possibly be changed if no agreement can be reached.

But whether things will continue at all for the International Consumer Electronics Fair IFA is still written in the stars. In terms of pure economic performance, the trade show certainly no longer has the important significance that the events held years ago.