Frankfurter Buchmesse announces change at the top of the organisation: Joachim Kaufmann to succeed Juergen Boos in autumn 2026

Frankfurter Buchmesse is setting the course for the future: internationally experienced publishing executive Joachim Kaufmann will become President and CEO of Frankfurter Buchmesse in autumn 2026. He will succeed Juergen Boos, who has led the organisation successfully for more than 20 years and has played a decisive role in shaping the fair as the world’s most important meeting place for the global book and media industry. Following the conclusion of this year’s Frankfurter Buchmesse in October, Juergen Boos will retire.

With the appointment of Joachim Kaufmann, Frankfurter Buchmesse has chosen a leader who brings a strong publishing perspective, extensive market expertise and an outstanding international network to the further development of the fair. As long-standing CEO of Carlsen Verlag (Bonnier Group), Kaufmann was responsible, among other things, for Bonnier’s expansion into new markets and for establishing the book business in Poland and China.

Karsten Schmidt-Hern, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Börsenverein des Deutschen Buchhandels Beteiligungsgesellschaft, the parent company of Frankfurter Buchmesse, said:
“We are delighted to have secured Joachim Kaufmann as the new President and CEO of Frankfurter Buchmesse. As an exceptionally successful and internationally well-connected publishing executive, he is the ideal successor to Juergen Boos. We are convinced that Joachim Kaufmann will continue the Frankfurter Buchmesse’s success story while at the same time providing new impetus to ensure that the fair remains both rooted in tradition and fit for the future.”

Commenting on his forthcoming role, Joachim Kaufmann said:
"After 20 amazing years at Carlsen and the Bonnier Group, I am very much looking forward to starting an entirely new chapter in my professional life and continuing the extremely successful work of Juergen Boos. I can hardly wait to work with a great team to further develop the world's most important book fair. In its role as the leading international event for the global book industry, it must remain the central venue for both rights trading and personal exchanges for the entire book world, and constantly adapt to the needs of its customers. I also see excellent opportunities to develop it into the largest festival for booklovers and reading far beyond Frankfurt and to draw the public's attention to the wonderful world of books and stories during the fair week."

Juergen Boos added:
“I am very pleased that Joachim Kaufmann has been chosen as my successor. I have known and valued Joachim for many years of working together for the international book industry and for freedom of expression. Few leaders in our world of books are as capable as he is of inspiring people with his ideas and convictions. He and the strong culture of collaboration within the Frankfurter Buchmesse team are an ideal match.”

About Joachim Kaufmann
After positions in sales and marketing at Herder, Christophorus, Bertelsmann (now Penguin Random House) and Ravensburger, Joachim Kaufmann (53) took over as CEO of Carlsen Verlag, a subsidiary of the Swedish Bonnier Group, in 2006. Under his leadership, Carlsen has grown into one of Germany's largest trade publishers over the past 20 years. Alongside his role at Carlsen, Kaufmann held various positions within the international Bonnier Group and served on several boards, most recently at Bonnier Books UK.

Within the Börsenverein des Deutschen Buchhandels, Joachim Kaufmann has been a member of the Publishers’ Committee since 2012. For around ten years he has also represented German publishers at international level, initially at the International Publishers Association (IPA) and currently at the Federation of European Publishers (FEP).

Joachim Kaufmann will join the company on 1 September 2026. Juergen Boos will continue to hold full responsibility for Frankfurter Buchmesse 2026 until his departure.