Sylvie Ritter, Managing Director of Baselworld World Watch and Jewellery Show and the most well-known face of its management team, has decided to step down after a long stint in her position with MCH Group, the organiserof the fair.
Michel Loris-Melikoff, who, till recently held the position of Director of MCH Beaulieu Lausanne SA, has been named to take over the reins from her.
Explaining her decision Ritter commented: “After 26 years with the MCH Group – 15 of which were as Managing Director of Baselworld – it’s time for me to start something new and take on new challenges.”
The members of the “ComitéConsultatif” of MCH expressed their regret at her departure, even as they thanked her “for her strategic positioning of the show in a manner commensurate with the market and for the always excellent organisation of Baselworld in operational terms”.
“She led and guided Baselworld with passion and expertise and made it the industry’s flagship event,” a comment from the Company read.
“Sylvie Ritter has made her mark on Baselworld for decades and has been the most important personal contact for the exhibitors at Baselworld,” said François Thiébaud, President of the Swiss Exhibitors’ Committee.
Eric Bertrand, President of the Baselworld Exhibitors’ Committee added: “We have always appreciated her exceptional commitment and her excellent knowledge of the industry.”
MCH Group’s CEO René Kamm expressing the regret felt within the group said: “She has shaped and directed Baselworld with great passion and professionalism. We very much regret her departure and I would like to thank her on behalf of the entire MCH Group for her extraordinary commitment during her many years of activity within our company.”
Loris-Melikoff, who will take over as Managing Director from July 1, 2018, joined the MCH Group three years ago as Director of MCH Beaulieu Lausanne SA.
“We are pleased to have found a very competent successor in Michel Loris-Melikoff,” said Kamm.
The 53-year-old lawyer, who started his career in private banking, before entering the event industry 20 years ago, obviously plans to hit the ground running. Even before the baton has been officially passed, Loris-Melikoff has announced a number of innovations for Baselworld 2019.
“We will be expanding the Baselworld team and further developing the event to continue along the path of quality enhancement and to meet the challenges of the future,” said Loris-Melikoff. “We will also be setting new accents so as to position Baselworld as the leading marketing and communication platform for the industry. We are tackling this task with a large number of new ideas and with valuable inputs from exhibitors, visitors and the media.”
He has announced an initiative especially for the jewellery segment while new concepts are also being worked out for the watch and precious stone sectors. All the new plans will be presented shortly. Innovations are also being introduced in the fields of catering, hospitality and events so as to cater to the requirements of exhibitors and visitors “to an even better extent”.
“It is already clear that Baselworld 2019 will be open an entire day for the media representatives. The exhibition newspaper, “Baselworld Daily News”, will be coming back in printed form and with a new concept. In parallel, the digital information and communication offerings launched in 2018 will be intensified and supplemented by new services for exhibitors, visitors and the media,” MCH summed up.
Pic Cap: Michel Loris-Melikoff
News Source : gjepc.org
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