London Marathon Events (LME) has acquired Motion Events GmbH, the company behind the Mainova Frankfurt Marathon, in a move that marks the organisation’s first significant step outside Britain.
The Frankfurt Marathon has been running since 1981, making it one of the older city marathons on the European circuit. It’s known for fast times and a genuinely unusual finish: runners cross the line on a red carpet inside the Festhalle, a grand early 20th-century exhibition hall in the city centre. Motion Events, which also organises the Gutenberg Half Marathon in Mainz, has been running the race since its founding in 1999.
The deal follows Frankfurt’s inclusion in a new European Marathon Classics series, which also involves the TCS London Marathon. That grouping is designed to raise the international profile of Europe’s best marathons — so it makes sense that LME would want a direct stake in one of them rather than just a consultancy role.
The Frankfurt Marathon is a world-class event with deep heritage, exceptional community support, and enormous potential for future growth. We are honoured to become its custodians and to work with Motion’s brilliant team to build on Jo Schindler’s remarkable legacy. This acquisition marks a defining moment in LME’s international journey, and we cannot wait to bring our shared vision to life.
Hugh Brasher, CEO, London Marathon Events
Motion Events founder Jo Schindler, who has run the organisation for over 20 years, will stay on as Race Director through 2026 and remain a board member beyond that. A new CEO, Holger Kranz — previously Head of Sponsorship at Frankfurt Tourism — takes over the day-to-day running of the business.
For more than 20 years, our team has organised the Frankfurt Marathon with passion and dedication. I was looking for a partner who would preserve the spirit of the event, respect its people and invest in its future — and we have found that in London Marathon Events. Together we could take the event to the next level — I couldn’t imagine a better home for my Frankfurt Marathon.
Jo Schindler, Founder, Motion Events GmbH
LME has outlined plans to grow participation among women and underrepresented communities in Frankfurt, drawing on programmes it already runs in the UK. Youth engagement is also on the agenda — LME has previous here with initiatives like The Daily Mile and the TCS Mini London Marathon, and says it wants to build something similar in Frankfurt with local schools and community partners.
For runners with Frankfurt already on their radar, it’s worth noting that the fast, flat course and iconic Festhalle finish aren’t going anywhere. If you’re looking to train for a marathon with a PB in mind, Frankfurt remains one of the best options in Europe. The short version: the race stays the same, with more resource behind it.
