Paris, France – Paul Woodward was named the next managing director of UFI – The Global Association of the Exhibition Industry and will replace Vincent Gérard effective August 1, 2010.
The UFI Board of Directors approved the appointment of Woodward, who is currently the association’s Asia/Pacific regional director, and announced that Gérard would step down July 31, 2010.
UFI President John Shaw said Woodward would be based at the association’s headquarters in Paris and would oversee UFI’s teams in Abu Dhabi and Hong Kong as well as Paris.
The Belgian-born Gérard joined UFI in 2001. His earlier experience included 15 years as an organizer of the Brussels agricultural trade fair Agrlbex and a term as chairman of Febelux, the exhibition industry association in Belgium and Luxemburg.
UFI has a membership of 447 trade show organizers, venues and suppliers around the world, including several in the U.S. UFI has long-range plans to establish a chapter in the U.S. and partner with a U.S.-based industry association.
Reach Vincent Gérard at +33 (0) 1 4267 9912 or v.gerard@ufi.org; Paul Woodward at +(852) 2525 6129 or asia@ufi.org; John Shaw at +33 (0) 1 4267 9912 or john.shaw@ufi.org
