Christoph Tessmar Elected President of ICCA

From left to right: Incoming ICCA President Christoph Tessmar, Director, Barcelona Convention Bureau; ICCA CEO Dr. Senthil Gopinath; and outgoing ICCA President Marta Gomes; Christoph Tessmar © ICCA

The Director of Barcelona Convention Bureau will lead the association into its next phase of global advocacy, industry collaboration and member engagement.

ICCA has elected Christoph Tessmar, Director of Barcelona Convention Bureau, as its new President. The announcement was made at the association’s General Assembly during the 2026 ICCA Congress in Panama City, bringing a change in leadership as the international association meetings sector continues to navigate new opportunities for collaboration, advocacy and global engagement.

Tessmar takes over from outgoing President Marta Gomes at a time when ICCA is seeking to expand its influence across the global business events industry. Its priorities include advancing recognition of the contribution made by international association meetings, strengthening strategic partnerships and providing members with the intelligence, connections and expertise needed to develop their activities.

Working alongside ICCA’s Board, leadership team and international membership, the new President will oversee the association’s next phase of development, building on its existing work in global advocacy and industry representation. The organisation’s stated ambition is to reinforce the role of association meetings in supporting economies, communities and wider society.

Dr Senthil Gopinath, ICCA CEO, welcomed the appointment, highlighting the importance of the association’s international community and the opportunities ahead:

“ICCA’s strength has always come from the people who make up our global community and the connections we create across borders, sectors and perspectives. I am delighted to welcome Christoph as our new President at such an important moment for our association and our industry. Together, we have an opportunity to build on the progress we have made, strengthen ICCA’s position as the global leader in advocacy for the business events industry, and demonstrate even more clearly the value international association meetings bring to economies, communities and society. I look forward to working closely with Christoph and our Board as we turn our shared ambition into meaningful impact for our members and the wider industry.”
 

The leadership transition comes as ICCA brings its international community together in Panama for its 2026 Congress, held under the theme “CrossWorlds: The Crossings We Bring, The Crossings We Choose.” The programme’s focus on connections between perspectives, disciplines and industries reflects the association’s interest in extending collaboration beyond traditional sector boundaries.

For ICCA, the Congress also provides a setting in which to consider the wider role of international meetings and the relationships they create across industries and markets. Its agenda is closely connected to the association’s broader work to demonstrate the contribution of association meetings to economic and social development.

Tessmar’s election opens a new chapter in the association’s leadership, with the Board, CEO and international membership continuing to shape its priorities. The coming period will test how ICCA translates its ambitions for advocacy, collaboration and member support into practical outcomes for the global business events community.
 

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