Certified Event Designer | Entrepreneur | Trainer | Speaker | Advisor
Event Design Collective
Gerrit Jessen, CED CMM CMP, is Managing Partner of GECO Communication & Management GmbH and Director Germany for the Event Design Collective. He supports associations, corporations and destinations in designing events that drive measurable behavioral change using the Event Canvas™ methodology.
Gerrit began his career in the international hospitality industry, working with luxury hotels in Germany, the UK, and the US. In 1991, he founded his own event agency, which he later sold to MCI Group in 2007. As Regional Managing Director for Germany, Austria and the Czech Republic, he led MCI Germany’s growth from 30 to 130 staff across four offices and oversaw key acquisitions and integrations.
He has contributed to industry development through board and standards work, including the DIN ISO 20121 Working Group Germany and as Vice-Chair Finance of the MPI International Board. Gerrit is also a Certified.de auditor and supports sustainability initiatives such as Berlin’s Sustainable Meetings program. In 2025, he mentored entrepreneurs through the EU‑funded BEFuture accelerator program.
Outside work, Gerrit contributes as a volunteer senior expert, including assignments that support hospitality businesses in emerging destinations.
Date