Torsten Casimir becomes Spokesperson for Frankfurter Buchmesse

Former editor-in-chief of the trade magazine Börsenblatt assumes responsibility for further expansion of the industry event as a debate platform

On 15 January 2023, Dr Torsten Casimir will become Frankfurter Buchmesse’s Spokesperson. He will head up the company's communications department. In addition, he will be jointly responsible for the development of new content offerings, and the expansion of partnerships for the world's largest platform for the publishing industry and creative industries. In this function, Casimir is also deputy to the Fair Director, Juergen Boos, alongside Gabi Rauch-Kneer, Head of Fair Management.

Juergen Boos said: "I am really glad to have persuaded Torsten Casimir to join the team in this new role and to know that he will be at my side as a discussion partner in the coming years. With his network and his openness to new paths, together we will strengthen Frankfurter Buchmesse and make it fit for the future. We are sharpening our profile as the forum where the key, relevant debates of our time converge and where the brightest, most creative minds in publishing meet."

Torsten Casimir said: "For me, these have been exciting tasks throughout my professional life: stirring up debates, bringing interesting people into conversation with each other, and reacting to important current affairs. I find the chance to do all this again, in an exciting context that is new to me, very inspiring. At Frankfurter Buchmesse, highly skilled colleagues are working towards these goals. I look forward to spending time together in and with this team."

Since 2006, Casimir has been editor-in-chief of the trade magazine Börsenblatt, which is published by the Börsenverein des Deutschen Buchhandels and published by the technology and information provider MVB. Ronald Schild, MVB Managing Director said: "Torsten Casimir has shaped the Börsenblatt in terms of content. Under his aegis, Börsenblatt has expanded its role as a leading industry magazine and also transferred it to digital. I would like to sincerely thank Torsten for his great commitment and successful work. I very much regret that he is leaving us, but can understand his decision to take on a new challenge."

The editor-in-chief role at the Börsenblatt will be taken over on an interim basis by Torsten Casimir's previous deputy, Christina Schulte. The management of MVB's entire media division, which Casimir has shared with Dr. Jörg Gerschlauer in recent years, will be in Gerschlauer's hands alone until further notice.

Ronald Schild explains the plans for the Börsenblatt: "We want to use the personnel change to optimally align our editorial and marketing & sales teams as well as our processes for the further digital transformation of the trade magazine in the coming months. We will continue to be measured by the high quality of the content of our specialist information."

Prior to joining the Börsenblatt, Casimir’s studied communication science, German language and literature, and musicology, followed by a doctorate at the University of Münster. Torsten Casimir completed a daily newspaper traineeship at the Westfälische Nachrichten. As editor of the Rheinische Post, he later focused on culture and science and became head of the feature section. As a sideline, he is active as a moderator and lecturer at colleges and universities.