- Ted Bloom steps up to Chief Executive Officer (CEO) role on 1st April 2024
- Current CEO Simon Mellor to step down for family reasons
Dubai, UAE: Messe Frankfurt Middle East (MFME) is pleased to announce the promotion of Ted Bloom, the current Managing Director, to the position of Chief Executive Officer (CEO). This development comes as Simon Mellor, the incumbent CEO, steps down to dedicate more time to his family. Ted Bloom, who has been acting in the CEO capacity for the majority of 2023, will continue to lead the company's strategic direction and operational excellence.
During his tenure as CEO since 2019, Simon Mellor has been instrumental in steering MFME through the challenges of the pandemic, achieving noteworthy milestones. Under his leadership, the company witnessed record revenues, impressive visitor numbers in 2022, and an expansion of its event portfolio.
Reflecting on his time with MFME, Simon Mellor remarked, “I have thoroughly enjoyed leading MFME over the past five years. From the challenges of 2020 to the outstanding growth of the 2022 and 2023 exhibition seasons, it has been an honour to witness the team and company grow. Throughout that time, Ted has been an incredible support and driver that both I and all of MFME have been fortunate to work with. I have no doubt he will continue to lead this company towards its vision and potential.”
With three decades experience in the exhibition industry, gained across exhibition organisers, standbuilders and industry leaders, Bloom joined MFME in 2022 as Chief Operating Officer, rising to interim Managing Director in 2023. Together with Mellor, he was influential in expanding the company’s business in the Middle East. This experience has provided him with the ideal position to step into the role at this point.
Expressing gratitude for Mellor's mentorship, Bloom shared his enthusiasm for the future, stating, “It had been incredible to work closely with Simon the past two years. I am incredibly thankful for his leadership and mentorship and wish him the best for the next chapter.” He added, “As the exhibition industry in the Middle East continues to thrive, driven by significant demand from exhibitors and attracting record numbers of visitors, I look forward to working with the talented team to achieve even greater milestones in the future. I am confident that the company’s portfolio of business-to-business exhibitions will continue to provide platforms for connection across the region.”
The seamless transition from Simon Mellor to Ted Bloom is already underway, ensuring continuity and maintaining the high level of service exhibitors, visitors, and suppliers expect from MFME. This transition comes at a time when the company is experiencing remarkable growth and potential across its events in the Middle East, with flagship brands like Intersec, Automechanika, and Beautyworld achieving record growth in 2023 and 2024 in Dubai and Saudi Arabia.