NEW DEHLI — The Indian trade show industry lost a leader, ambassador and friend when S. Balasubramanian, President of the Indian Exhibition Industry Association (IEIA), succumbed to COVID-19 on May 10, 2021.
In a notice sent by IEIA announcing Balasubramanian’s passing, IEIA praised his leadership through the most critical period of the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to leading IEIA, he spent more than two decades in the Indian exhibition industry. His work as Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer of the Indian Machine Tool Manufacturer’s Association (IMTMA) and Bangalore International Exhibition Centre (BIEC) included heading the trade fairs division — which organizes IMTEX and regional machine tool shows across various cities in the country — and operating BIEC, India’s leading green exhibition facility. Prior to joining IMTMA, he was with Informa Group, Intech Trade Fairs and Wisitex Foundation.
Balasubramanian, known as “Bala,” is survived by his wife and two sons.
“A gentleman to the core and with an affable, ever-smiling face, it is not possible to fill the vacuum created by his untimely departure. He will be missed by his family, colleagues and the exhibition fraternity in India and abroad,” the IEIA obituary said.
“The entire Indian exhibitions industry stands together with Bala’s family in their hour of tragedy. We pray for the eternal salvation of the departed soul.”
Kai Hattendorf, President of UFI, said, “Bala’s untimely passing creates a hole in our industry second in size only to the love and devotion he held for exhibitions and the international exhibition community. I rarely met such a kind, warm, and competent person. We have lost a colleague and a friend, and my heart goes out to all those closest to him.”
Send condolences to his family to ed@ieia.in.
