December 15, 2021

VNU Asia Pacific appoints new managing director

Exhibition firm VNU has appointed Igor Palka as managing director for its regional office in the Southeast Asian region.

Based in Bangkok, Palka will be starting officially on January 15, 2022.

Palka is a seasoned trade show executive with over 18 years of exhibition industry knowledge and leadership in Germany and South Asia. He spent most of his professional life with Messe Muenchen GmbH, a leading global player in the sector, where his career steps included the leadership of Messe Muenchen's subsidiaries in India as chief executive officer and chief operating officer, serving as director for the Ceramitec Portfolio as well as leading the standardisation of digital events. Most recently, Palka served as managing director of an international exhibition series in Berlin, Germany.

Palka will be overseeing the entire Southeast Asian region with responsibility for continuing the rapid business expansion in the post-pandemic recovery phase. He will be in charge of executing the organisation's regional growth strategy with a focus on portfolio expansion, new business development, strategic joint ventures, operational excellence and digital transformation.

Albert Arp, CEO of Royal Jaarbeurs, VNU Group, and chairman of the board of VNU Asia Pacific, said: "We are excited to welcome Igor to our team. With Igor's international experience, passion and broad knowledge of the exhibition industry, we can guarantee a smooth transition and a successful continuation of the business development and leadership excellence in the region."

"Igor is an experienced and ambitious executive, that shares our passion and vision for future growth, execution speed and superior customer service," said Heiko M. Stutzinger, COO of Royal Jaarbeurs, VNU Group, and member of the board of directors at VNU Asia Pacific. "As the Southeast Asian region is reopening for the trade fair industry with huge investments upcoming, Igor can rely on a great team with excellent stakeholder relations – together with the VNU Asia Pacific team, I am sure Igor will bring our regional operations and portfolio to the next level."

"I have been following the fast-moving events industry in Asia and could observe the substantial progress VNU Asia Pacific has made in the region. I am truly thankful for the trust offered to me and very excited to be joining VNU Asia Pacific at this point in time. Together with the entire team, we will continue our future growth course based on the solid foundation set up in recent years," said Palka.

- VNU Asia Pacific