Yasar Guvenen has been inaugurated as the 16th president of Fespa, taking over from Augustus Martin founder Lascelle Barrow, who has served in the role of Fespa president since June 2013.
Guvenen joined the Fespa board in 2008, following nomination by ARED, Fespa’s Turkish member association, of which he also served as president from 2006 to 2008. As a board member, he has had specific input in the launch and development of exhibitions outside Western Europe, including Fespa Eurasia in Istanbul, as well as European Sign Expo.
Guvenen has been a board member of ESF (European Sign Federation) since 2010, and has also served as vice president of the Aegean Young Businessmen Association (EGIAD). His professional career started in 1981 as the first R&D staff member of a small German business in the field of industrial advertising products. In 1987 he founded his first company, a POP atelier which has developed into a globally active group of companies under several brands including Algroup International, Alvisual and Aion, focusing on the design and production management of indoor and outdoor visual communication solutions. He is also the founder of Guvenen Management which provides local guidance, set-up and implementation services for potential investors and newcomers to the Turkish market.
Guvenen said: “I’m committed to nurturing and growing the Fespa community, and to supporting our associations in the amazing work they do, showing respect for their knowledge of local issues and cultural contexts.
“Today Fespa covers six of the most important regions globally, enabling us to provide the best possible service to our business partners and to our valuable members in 37
countries. Our mission is to ensure that Fespa’s global reach.”
Guvenen is supported by Fespa vice president Christian Duyckaerts, who also represents Fespa’s Belgian member association Febelgra. The Fespa Board is now as follows:
Yasar Guvenen – president (Turkey)
Christian Duyckaerts - vice president (Belgium)
Enrico Steijn - treasurer (Netherlands)
Christophe Aussenac (France)
Lascelle Barrow (UK)
Gyorgy Kovacs (Hungary)
Anders Nilsson (Sweden)
Thomas Struckmeier (Germany)