Messe Berlin Rules Out Foxconn CEO as IFA Keynoter Despite His 2017 Vow to Appear

Organizer Messe Berlin on Monday officially ruled out Foxconn CEO Terry Gou as an IFA 2018 keynoter despite his vow last year to appear. Gou pulled out as a 2017 IFA keynoter two weeks before the show, blaming his inability to appear on the “global investment project" in Wisconsin that "fully occupies the company's strategic management resources” (see 1708160025). Foxconn decided the 2018 show “will be the ideal time for the previously announced IFA keynote," Gou said then. IFA and Foxconn “had agreed to re-examine the possibility of an IFA keynote for 2018 soon after” Gou’s 2017 withdrawal, Messe Berlin spokeswoman Nicole von der Ropp emailed us Monday. “Unfortunately, our partner Foxconn will not be able to implement a keynote this year.” Foxconn didn’t comment. IFA opens Aug. 31 in Berlin for a six-day run.