Hannover, Germany. A handover at INTERSCHUTZ, the world’s leading trade fair for fire and rescue services and civil protection: On February 1, 2026, Thilo Horstmann (48) assumed responsibility for the INTERSCHUTZ project management from Bernd Heinold (54), who at the same time moves to the role of Project Director for didacta, Europe’s largest trade fair for the education industry. Thilo Horstmann reports to Hendrik Rawe, Global Director INTERSCHUTZ, LIGNA, parts2clean, and SurfaceTechnology GERMANY within Trade Fair & Product Management at Deutsche Messe.

“With this highly qualified appointment to the INTERSCHUTZ Project Director position, Deutsche Messe is reinforcing the event’s continuous development,” says Arno Reich, Senior Vice President Trade Fair & Product Management at Deutsche Messe. “Thilo Horstmann is an experienced project director within the Deutsche Messe team and will bring strategic perspective and operational expertise to shape the future direction of the entire INTERSCHUTZ portfolio,” Reich adds.

After completing a dual degree in Business Administration at DHBW Ravensburg, Thilo Horstmann worked as a project manager overseeing various trade fairs within the international portfolio of HANNOVER MESSE, including Ankiros in Turkey and Metal & Metallurgy in China. Since 2008, he has served as a project manager and, from 2021 to the present, as Project Director of DOMOTEX.

“We would like to thank Mr. Heinold for his outstanding commitment, his keen sense for topics and people, and his ability to build and maintain strong networks. This combination has contributed significantly to the success of INTERSCHUTZ. In his new professional role as Project Director of didacta, he will bring his expertise with the same passion. We wish him every success,” says Arno Reich.

About INTERSCHUTZ

INTERSCHUTZ is the world's leading trade fair for firefighting, rescue, and civil protection. Taking place in 2026 in Hanover under the motto “Safeguarding Tomorrow”, INTERSCHUTZ showcases a comprehensive range of products and services in the fields of firefighting, preventive fire protection, rescue services, civil protection, communication and control center technology, as well as protective equipment. The INTERSCHUTZ portfolio also includes international events such as AFAC Australia , REAS Italy and China International Emergency Management Exhibition (CIEME) .