Artexis Easyfairs appoints Roland Brand Head of Easyfairs Switzerland

Artexis Easyfairs, the Brussels-based events organiser and venue manager, has announced the appointment of Roland Brand as its new Head of Region for Switzerland. Artexis Easyfairs identified Brand as being ideally qualified to drive forward the company’s ambitious plans for new product launches and acquisitions in the Swiss market.

Since 2009 Roland Brand has enjoyed great success as Chief Executive Officer with BERNEXPO GROUPE. Brand not only transformed BERNEXPO into the third largest venue in Switzerland but also acquired, and further developed, several leading trade fairs for the group. By the end of his tenure BERNEXPO owned or hosted 30 trade shows and managed 200 congresses and live events. Brand previously held several senior management positions, notably as Director, Marketing & Sales with the BOSCH Group in Switzerland and Australia as well as Managing Director of the leading Swiss football club, BSC Young Boys Bern.

Christian Rudin, who has led Easyfairs Switzerland since 2012, will stay on board as Head of Business Development.

“We have successfully built up Artexis Easyfairs in several small to medium sized countries with thriving SME sectors and mature economies, such as Belgium, The Netherlands and Sweden We now have serious ambitions to ramp up our presence in Switzerland, which has a similar profile,” commented Artexis Easyfairs CEO and founder Eric Everard. 

“Roland Brand combines a proven track record in events management, experience in the industrial technology and services sector, and deep knowledge of the Swiss market. He also has the entrepreneurial personality and leadership drive needed to transform a successful country operation into a great one through a combination of organic growth, new product launches and strategic acquisitions,” added Everard.

“Artexis Easyfairs has a very convincing business model and highly ambitious plans. I am thrilled to be taking the helm here in Switzerland and looking forward to working with the teams in Basel and Brussels,” said Brand. 

About Artexis Easyfairs 

Artexis Easyfairs enables communities to “visit the future” at must-attend events that anticipate their needs and present solutions in the ideal format. 

Through Easyfairs, the Group currently organises more than 200 events in 19 countries (Algeria, Austria, Belgium, China, Denmark, Emirates, Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Singapore, Russia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States). 

And through Artexis, it manages 11 events venues in the Benelux and Nordic regions (Ghent, Antwerp, 2 venues in Namur, Mechelen-Brussels North, Mons, Hardenberg, Gorinchem, Venray, Stockholm and Malmö). The Group employs more than 700 people and expects to generate revenues in excess of €169 million for its financial year 2016-2017.

Artexis Easyfairs strives to be the most adaptable, agile and effective player in the events industry by employing committed individuals, deploying the best marketing and technology tools, and developing strong brands. Visit the future with Artexis Easyfairs.

Contacts

Eric Everard
Group CEO
[email protected]  

Anne Lafère
Group COO
[email protected]

Roland Brand
Head of Easyfairs Switzerland
[email protected]