Igor Palka becomes the new Managing Director of Congress Messe Innsbruck

An industry expert with international experience will take over as managing director effective March 1, 2027, with the mandate to provide fresh impetus for Innsbruck as a destination for trade fairs, congresses, and events.

New Leadership for Successful Future Growth

Congress Messe Innsbruck (CMI) is setting the course for the future with Igor Palka. The experienced trade show, convention, and event expert will take over as CEO on March 1, 2027. With his international experience and proven industry expertise, Palka is expected to drive the company’s continued success and bring fresh momentum to the trade show, convention, and event sectors. Igor Palka, born in Munich in 1983, has more than 20 years of experience in the industry. Throughout his career, he has worked both nationally and internationally. Among other things, he has been responsible for several industrial trade shows as well as an international subsidiary of Messe München, gaining extensive experience in international markets, particularly in Asia. Palka currently serves as the head of the technology trade shows division, as well as the head of New Business Development and Internationalization, on the executive team at Messe Berlin. In this role, he is responsible for the strategic development of new business areas and the company’s international orientation.

With his move to Innsbruck, Palka brings extensive industry knowledge, an international perspective, and many years of leadership experience. “I am very much looking forward to this new role and to shaping the future of Congress Messe Innsbruck together with the team. As an internationally established location, Innsbruck offers great potential that we intend to further develop together,” explains Igor Palka, who thanks the shareholders for the trust they have placed in him. The management position at Congress Messe Innsbruck was filled through a proper and professionally managed selection process after Christian Mayerhofer stepped down for personal reasons following thirteen years at the helm of the company. The position was publicly advertised, resulting in over 160 applications from Austria and abroad. From this diverse pool of candidates, Igor Palka ultimately emerged as the successful candidate.

“The Supervisory Board is convinced that with Igor Palka, the strategic course has been set for a successful future for Congress Messe Innsbruck,” explains Supervisory Board Chairman Andreas Perger, who led the appointment process. “We thank Christian Mayerhofer for his many years of successful work and look forward to the future with full confidence in Igor Palka. He brings exactly the profile that Congress Messe Innsbruck needs as a reliable and modern partner in the trade show, convention, and event industry.”
 

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For more information, please see our press release: Igor Palka appointed new CEO

@ Igor Palka