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Change of management at the Interzoo organizer WZF

Interzoo Newsroom

13 February 2019

Change of management at the Interzoo organizer WZF

Alexandra Facklamm assumed the position as Managing Director of Interzoo organizer WZF (Wirtschaftsgemeinschaft Zoologischer Fachbetriebe GmbH) on 1 January 2019. The former WZF Managing Director Herbert Bollhöfer concluded his nearly 20 years of service on 31 December 2018.

Ever since the 1960s, Bollhöfer, a trained pet specialty retailer, has been committed to the concerns of the pet industry in Germany and Europe including as Treasurer and President of ZZF (Zentralverband Zoologischer Fachbetriebe Deutschlands e.V.), as the Honorary President of ZZF, and as Managing Director of WZF, a subsidiary of ZZF. During this time, Bollhöfer has played a key role in defining the evolution of the association and WZF. “Herbert Bollhöfer helped initiate the founding of the European Pet Organisation (EPO), represented the industry at numerous national and international conferences, worked for ethical animal protection, and expanded contact with ministries and government authorities. He also helped define the membership structure of ZZF and the economic focus of the Interzoo trade fair and all of WZF”, said ZZF President Norbert Holthenrich, in praise of Bollhöfer’s dedication. “We are very pleased that he will continue to assist both the association and WZF in an advisory capacity.”

The ZZF Executive Board, which is concomitantly also the Advisory Board of WZF, has made WZF’s management a full-time paid position, effective immediately. It thus continues the process of restructuring the ZZF and WZF business office in Wiesbaden. In Alexandra Facklamm, the Advisory Board has appointed a full-time managing director who enjoys excellent familiarity with the association and the company. The holder of a business degree, she has been working for ZZF and WZF for 17 years – for the last ten years as an authorised officer (Prokuristin).

“To achieve the association’s goals effectively, WZF as a subsidiary must show a profit overall. At the same time, I aim to sharpen the company´s profile as a service provider for the association and the industry”, she said. The business office is well positioned for such projects. WZF currently has 13 full-time employees, who not only manage the ZZF association’s activities, but serve it by making a professional contribution to the economic and communicative development of the pet industry.”

About WZF:

WZF (Wirtschaftsgemeinschaft Zoologischer Fachbetriebe GmbH) is a one-hundred-per-cent subsidiary of ZZF German Pet Trade & Industry Association. The service company has the form of a German limited liability company, or GmbH. WZF organizes the Interzoo – the world-leading trade fair for the international pet industry. Furthermore WZF’s business activities include the ring issuing agency (the Federal Ministry of the Environment has recognised ZZF as an issuing agency for identification markings for protected species), publications and PR work for the whole industry, and training at various levels. WZF also organises the ZZF Symposium and seminars on behalf of ZZF.