GHM Gesellschaft für Handwerksmessen mbH has announced a leadership change for IBA, the company's global trade fair for the baking and confectionery industry. Florian Gmeinwieser has been appointed director of IBA, succeeding Susann Seidemann, who will assume a new role as chief sales officer at GHM.

Gmeinwieser brings more than 20 years of experience in B2B strategy development and consulting across German and international companies. A business administration graduate, he has deep expertise in business development, digital marketing, and strategic planning. His background includes leadership roles at German communications agencies, notably as head of mobile and later head of digital business at Serviceplan, where he helped shape the company’s digital strategy.

With roots in the craft sector—trained as a precision mechanic and raised in a family of bakers—Gmeinwieser has a strong connection to the artisan bakery community. He will work closely with the German Bakers' Confederation, IBA's owner, as well as the market and IBA team to further develop the trade fair.

Seidemann led IBA from April 2021–August 2025, contributing significantly to its growth. “I am looking forward to the new challenge at GHM. Now it's time to say thank you—to the entire baking industry, all market participants, partners, and the German Bakers' Confederation for the wonderful cooperation,” says Seidemann. “With Florian Gmeinwieser, a proven strategy expert is taking over the leadership of IBA. He has a deep understanding of the challenges facing the baking sector. I am handing over the further development of this unique trade fair into the best of hands.”

Roland Ermer, president of the German Bakers' Confederation (Zentralverband des Deutschen Bäckerhandwerks e.V.), adds, “Susann Seidemann has contributed significantly to the success of IBA in recent years. I have always been impressed by her vision, her organisational skills, and her consistently good humour. The entire team at the German Bakers’ Confederation thanks her for her collaboration and looks forward to welcoming her successor, Florian Gmeinwieser. With him, GHM has gained an experienced strategist who knows how to bring national and international customers together. We look forward to working with him and to the next IBA in 2027.”

“Combining artisan bakery with innovative technologies and sustainable solutions is a key trend for the future, and one that I want to continue to promote at IBA,” says Gmeinwieser. “I am looking forward to working with the baking industry and the German Bakers' Confederation. IBA is the stage for the entire national and international baking industry. My focus is on the continuous development of IBA in order to better equip market participants for the future of baking.”

About the strategic decisions he is planning to make to equip IBA for future challenges, Gmeinwieser says, “Major trends such as digitalization, sustainability, and the shortage of skilled workers affect both industry and artisan bakery—but new solutions often focus initially on large-scale bakers. We must ensure that IBA remains the forum that connects both worlds: artisan bakers and industrial companies. It is crucial that we create spaces where technology providers, start-ups, and practitioners can learn from each other. In this way, we ensure that innovations not only reach the big players but also provide impetus and concrete help for small and medium-sized craft businesses.”

Remarking on what appeals to Gmeinwieser most about managing IBA, he says, “Communication has always fascinated me—and that is precisely our core business as trade fair organisers: we create events where people come together, exchange ideas, and initiate new things. IBA is not just a trade fair, it is the stage for the entire national and international baking industry. Working with partners to further develop this platform, highlight trends, and create spaces for dialogue on future topics is an incredibly exciting task.”

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