MONTERREY, Mexico — Funeral services for Jesus Manuel Franco Abascal, former Director General of the Cintermex convention center, were held July 16 in Monterrey, Mexico.
Franco, who ran the center from its opening in 1991 into 2010, died July 11. He is survived by his wife and children.
Prior to his tenure at Cintermex, he was director of Proexport, a mechanism of the state government for the promotion of investment. He also served as Director and Vice President of Industrial Development for American Industries, known in Mexico as an industrial export consortium.
Franco was a fixture in Mexico’s trade show industry and a familiar face to U.S. organizers through is active participation in the International Association of Exhibitions & Events. “Jesus was known as much for his leadership as for his love of his family who often accompanied him to industry meetings,” said Darlene Gudea, Publisher Emeritus of Trade Show Executive. “So many trade show executives have been enriched by his knowledge and his kindness, and he will be forever missed.”
After leaving Cintermex in June 2010, Franco devoted himself full-time to his consulting business, which he launched in 1979 after his graduation from the University of Monterrey.
Cintermex provides 38 breakout rooms and is expanding its prime expanding space to 420,492 sf, according to the Trade Show Executive World’s Top Convention Centers. The expansion is expected to be completed this year. Cintermex features the in-house event planning firm Asociación Promotora de Exposiciones A.C. (APEX).
Reach Cintermex at +52 (81) 8369 6969 or info@cintermex.com
