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The Group Management Team, which brings together all the Business Units and services and is organized in the form of a globally networked team, is fully focused on customers and their needs. The main task of the team is to tailor our offerings to our global customers and further develop the value chain in line with market needs. We will thus be cooperating and interacting more intensively across the different divisions in future, combining competencies and know-how and thus creating added value for MCH Group and our customers.

Through its marketing platforms and solutions, MCH Group wishes to contribute to strengthening the corresponding industry networks and communities as well as its national and international customers. The diverse nature of its customers and their needs is a key driver behind the innovative business models and solutions that are drawn up by the Business Units on the basis of their visionary ideas, specialist expertise, innovative capacity and their understanding of quality and sustainability (see the section on Business Units). They frequently define new benchmarks.

The customer groups comprise organizers, exhibitors, trade fair and event attendees, Live Marketing Solutions clients, partners, the venues and the general public as well as numerous subgroups and combinations of the above.

At MCH Group, we rely on the creativity, competence, diversity and passion of our employees. MCH Group promotes a corporate culture that rewards personal initiative and commitment. We regard ourselves as a team in both success and failure. Our diversity is a strength that is boosted by mutual respect. We aim to create an environment in which individual potential can be developed for the greater good of the company's success (see Values, Governance).

At the end of the 2023 reporting year, MCH Group had a total of 1,441 employees (in 2022: 794). The increase compared with the previous year is due to the temporary employees (601) working mainly in the USA. In 2023, 840 people were employed by MCH Group on permanent contracts. This marks an increase of some 27 % (in 2022: 662). A total of 1,046 people are full-time employees and 395 part-time employees (approximately 73 % and 27 % respectively).

Employee numbers and diversity were not only recorded in 2023, but were also independently audited for the first time (independent limited assurance). A total of 1,441 people work for MCH Group, 494 (34 %) of whom are women. Women are underrepresented in the three top management bodies. Our employees represent more than ten nationalities worldwide.

Two programs are at the heart of our training and education:

At the end of 2022, we embarked on a far-reaching transformation process to ensure that we can master the challenges of the future. In parallel to our economic recovery, we are undergoing a cultural transformation, centered on new corporate values that are being drawn up. These will serve as basic principles to govern our attitudes, our day-to-day interaction, our collaboration across team and national boundaries, and also our behavior towards ourselves and others.

MCH Group is present in different regions of the world and is going through a process of change. This makes it all the more important to create a culture of shared values that will promote cooperation. The Culture Journey is based on four pillars. The first of these was aimed at making the move away from silo thinking and toward a culture of unity (“Silo to Unity”). It proved possible to considerably strengthen the sense of community within the company group through workshops for the Management Team (one three-day and two two-day workshops, global) and for the Game Changers (three workshops, Switzerland). The next three pillars of this transformation process are “Blame to Accountability” (improved communication and mutual understanding), “Status Quo to Status Future” (the correct way of dealing with mistakes or failures) and “Top Down to 360 Collaboration” (expanding the scope for action and responsibility of the individual employee).

The corporate values shape our corporate culture. This contributes to the success of MCH Group. Our aim is to grow closer together as a group of companies. We can only win or lose together.
To the values

The Game Changers are employees from all MCH companies and hierarchical levels. They represent the interests of our teams and employees, contribute ideas, and work with the Group Management Team to further develop our corporate culture. They play an active part in shaping our Culture Journey and are key pillars in our process of cultural change.

Further workshops are planned for new Game Changers – one in the USA and one in Switzerland for the Asia region. In January 2024, a workshop is being held in Europe for the Paris and Swiss Game Changers. By expanding the Game Changers to include new members, we aim to increase their reach and impact. While there were 30 people in the first group, a total of 80 people will now be taking part.

“CEOs on Tour” is a key supporting measure. When the CEOs of the Business Units are in other countries, they meet up with the respective teams and provide informal updates on current business, engaging in relaxed discussions with the teams.

The Idea Exchange Platform and Exchange Program are currently under development. The former is a collaboration platform aimed at facilitating the exchange of ideas. Challenges can be discussed, successes celebrated and best practices shared here. The Exchange Program gives employees the opportunity to gain insight into other departments or Business Units.

The 2022/2023 management development program was launched in 2022. This further training aims to provide the 100 or so managerial staff with a practical basis for leadership that matches the strategic alignment and cultural reorientation of MCH Group. A key part of the training involves the revision and implementation of our corporate values.

The program was developed by Corporate People Management together with external experts (Avenir Group) and adopted by the Management Team. The management training is aimed primarily at reflecting on and further developing one's own leadership behavior and rapidly deploying the newly acquired knowledge. The contents include coaching and conflict resolution techniques, leadership in change processes and the development of an open feedback culture. The program is intended for all MCH Group managers worldwide and is held in English and German, divided into four modules.

MCH Group is committed to its location of Switzerland and to its infrastructure locations of Basel and Zurich as priority venues for staging its own and guest exhibitions. It thus safeguards the interests of its locations and secures the significant economic effects (see Introduction) that result from the group's activities at its exhibition and congress sites. MCH Group is additionally committed to institutions (business, tourism, culture) that promote both the economy and the group's business locations, providing them with active and transparent support through its membership and/or partnership in specific projects (see, for example, Messe Basel in cooperation with Basel Tourism).

As a co-founder of 'Arcual', MCH Group supports the first blockchain ecosystem developed by the art community for the art community. Arcual is a technology company that designs cutting-edge digital and blockchain-based products to improve trust and security in transactions.

The future of digital infrastructure for the art world
Arcual offers a range of digital tools and integrations to support galleries, artists and collectors in ensuring verified transactions, digital authenticity, royalties, and international payments.

New standards for the art ecosystem
Arcual's configurable and collaborative technology products define new standards for the art market and offer new application options for solving longstanding challenges.

Access by Art Basel is a curated sales platform that supports local and international charity initiatives. It was launched at Art Basel Miami Beach 2023.
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Integrated philanthropy
Each collector enquiry contains a customizable donation for a charitable cause.

A curated selection of artworks
A selection of high-caliber works of art is available online and in-person at the stands of the participating galleries.

Secure payments
Our state-of-the-art technology enables seamless online payments and automatic payout splits.

The Green Team was launched in 2023 with a kick-off event. A total of 13 people are currently active in the Green Team alongside their full-time positions. The 'Lunch & Learn' workshops constitute a key aspect of the team's work. These are organized in collaboration with Art Basel. 

In these workshops, the interdisciplinary teams address key issues, including:
- the blockchain ecosystem
- the changes to be initiated as an active GCC member (GCC: Gallery Climate Coalition);
- the preparation of the carbon report (first-time data collection) and the CO₂ reduction pathway.

The Arcual team adopts environmental measures and integrates them in its everyday work. Travel is reduced to a minimum (use of TravelPerk), remote working is encouraged, use is made of public transport and work is paperless or fully digitized. Guidelines have been drawn up for the office and IT infrastructure (best practice). Arcual works with suppliers and partners who are similarly committed to sustainability, such as 'mygift' for merchandising. The products are made from recycled materials.

It is not only the selected partnerships (with GCC, ICRC, the Miami Foundation/Gifts or the MCH Sustainability Team) that highlight Arcual's commitment to the art community. In 2023, Art Basel supported charity project Access by Art Basel with a substantial sum.