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René Karnahl Chairman

Languages Spoken: English, German

In the event business since 1991, René truly started from scratch as a local rigger and stage builder, whilst completing his apprenticeship. After setting up his own company in rigging and live event production in 1994, René became one of the first riggers in Germany to pass the official rigging certificate of the FEA. He has also worked for some of the world’s biggest companies like Mercedes, SAP and Volkswagen; as well as for international superstars Michael Jackson, U2, Madonna and Kylie Minogue.

Alex Würfel Group CEO

Languages Spoken: English, German

With 30 years’ experience in the event production industry, Alex has worked with some of the world’s most legendary artists – including U2, The Rolling Stones, Tina Turner, Phil Collins, Madonna and AC/DC. An electrical engineer by trade, Alex’s specialisms span a range of disciplines, including temporary structures, lighting, power distribution, rigging and security & crowd control. With a master’s degree in Security and Safety, he holds a certificate for electrical engineering and is a Level 3 Rigger certified by the German SQQ2.

Ana Martinez Director of Strategy & Development

Languages Spoken: English, Spanish

An entrepreneur at heart and a creative soul, Ana’s executive mindset means she can bring the most imaginative ideas to life – achieving shared objectives and having fun along the way. She actively participates in both local and international projects at ES:ME, whilst collaborating with the leadership team on meeting company growth and development goals, too.

Robert Handley Vice President - QATAR & KSA

Languages Spoken: English, German

Starting out as an event producer within the GCC countries, Rob has been in the events and entertainment industry for over 20 years. A winner of various awards for successfully leading teams with vigour and excellence, Rob never misses an opportunity to surpass client expectations; always ready to accomplish bigger and more complex projects together with his team!   

 

Markus Schmidt Director of Operations - UAE & International

Languages Spoken: English, German

With over 30 years of experience in senior positions in the event and system integration sectors, Markus brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the table. He shows an unparalleled work ethic and a passion for team building that ensures he delivers projects collaboratively and to the highest standard.

Matthew Clarke Country Director - KSA

Languages Spoken: English, Italian

Matthew Clarke brings unparalleled expertise to the team as our new Director of Operations. From founding Amadeus Holdings AG to leading strategic initiatives for major events across multiple Olympic Games, Formula One and FIFA World Cup events, Matthew’s professional background evidently embodies excellence and dedication. With Matthew leading our KSA division, we are more capable than ever to take clients’ vision to new heights.

Dorina Oprean Group People & Culture Manager

Languages Spoken: English, Romanian, Spanish and Italian

Dorina our Group People and Culture Manager has a solid track record in optimizing performance and adding more value to the team. She brings strong organizational skills and a forward-thinking approach to the table. Dorina is here to keep driving growth, and fostering a positive ES:ME work culture!

Shishir Uchil Business Development Manager - QATAR

Languages Spoken: English

Drawing on 9 years of experience, Shishir has consistently driven revenue growth and nurtured crucial client connections. His diverse background includes spearheading initiatives during the FIFA World Cup 2022 and orchestrating corporate events. Notably, he has experience managing and addressing oil & gas related inquiries, while also cultivating significant accounts within the government sector.

Alexander Franzetti Business Development Manager UAE & International

Languages Spoken: English, German

Alexander Franzetti, a seasoned Sales Manager and Marketing Communications Specialist, boasts over two decades of professional experience in the GCC and Germany. His multifaceted expertise spans sales, marketing, business development, and event management. With a proven track record, Alexander brings more invaluable insights to the team and clients!

Kevin Crossley Assets Manager

Languages Spoken: English

Kevin Crossley is an accomplished assets and operations management professional with extensive experience in strategic planning, business growth, and warehouse management. He has led teams in UAE-based companies, optimizing warehouse operations and client relations. With a strong background in leadership and mangement, Kevin is well-equipped to drive ES:ME’s success to the next level!

Tracy Morris Senior Project Manager

Languages Spoken: English, Afrikaans

Tracy has a true passion for the events industry. She found her calling in 2003 and hasn’t looked back since then. Having enjoyed different roles from admin team leader, sales manager to project manager on many large international events, she is now very happy to have joined the ES:ME team. She believes that with efficient and effective communication and detailed planning, clients can put their trust in her leadership and understanding of their brief.

Karen Zeindl Senior Project Manager

Languages Spoken: English, German

Also known as “Maya”, she joined the team in January 2022. Karen is a certified event technology specialist and a certified craftswoman for event technology, specialty stage & studio. Through her expertise, Karen stuns our clients by not only envisioning exceptional projects, but by bringing these to life and exceeding expectations.

Evelyn Maingat Project Manager

Languages Spoken: English, Filipino Tagalog

With 9+ years of experience in Customer Service, Sales, Events, and AV Rental, Evelyn is a seasoned Operations Executive skilled in efficiently managing operations, overseeing technical crews, and ensuring seamless event execution. As a former Sales Coordinator, she excelled in establishing strong customer relationships, generating leads, and negotiating agreements, demonstrating a collaborative and results-driven approach in a fast-paced environment.

Winnie Orines Junior Project Manager

Languages Spoken: English, Filipino Tagalog

Winnie first joined Even2, ES:ME’s rigging division, armed with five years of experience in the event industry and her Bachelors in Finance. She is very proactive in assisting the entire ES:ME team with project management and client communications on projects of all industries and sizes.

Ariane Kate Viscayno Project Coordinator

Languages Spoken: English, Filipino Tagalog

Kate is a dynamic professional with over a year of experience in event and project management. She has successfully overseen major events like the FIFA Arab Cup 2021 Fanzone and FIFA WC 2022 Fan Zones. With a strong background in planning, coordination, and logistics, she also excels in client and supplier communication, managing event operations from start to finish. Kate is more than ready to drive our projects to new heights!

Theodoros Gkiantsis Senior Audio Engineer

Languages Spoken: English, Greek

Backed with more than a decade of experience in audio engineering, Theo’s expertise assures clients that all audio solutions for their events are of the highest quality and to the exact specifications required. Thorough and driven, Theo is always ready to take up the next challenging project! 

Jonathan Santiago Senior Audio Technician

Languages Spoken: English, Filipino Tagalog

Jonathan, brings over 10 years of experience in handling audio, video, and rigging equipment for events. He is highly skilled in setting up and operating equipment, troubleshooting issues, and ensuring smooth event execution. With certifications in various areas including equipment operation and safety, he has worked on a range of events from small set-ups to large-scale productions, ensuring everything runs seamlessly.

Ayan Diusembay Senior Lighting Engineer

Languages Spoken: English, Kazakh, Russian

Ayan is a certified event specialist with 11 years experience working in large scale events and works on some of ES:ME’s clients’ key local and international events. He’s one of our senior lighting technicians and works with clients on every aspect of their event production—from lighting design to installation, through to maintenance and repair of lighting systems.

Reinier Robertson Senior Rigger

Languages Spoken: English, Afrikaans

Reinier specialises in rigging and structures, and his accumulated knowledge over the years has given him valuable insight into how to handle any role on a set. He has been in the industry since 2011 and his eye for fine detail makes him an invaluable asset to any team. Passionate about what the events industry can achieve, Reinier is always willing to go the extra mile to provide the best possible result for any given project.

Jeremy Offermann Rigging Technical Planner

Languages Spoken: English, German, French

Jeremy is a certified rigging expert with experience in contributing to high-profile events such as the Dubai Sevens and F1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. He has a solid background in roles such as Technical Coordinator, Technician, and Technical Planner. His expertise, coupled with effective communication skills, reflects a commitment to personal and professional development– all for the benefit of our clients and team.

Artiom Boitov Technical Project Manager

Languages Spoken: English, Russian

Arti excels in temporary installations and operating Grand MA consoles for events across the Middle East. Certified by MA Lighting and ETC Lighting, Arti can handle planning, rigging, and troubleshooting with precision. With a strong background and a passion for lighting design, Arti brings a unique skill set to every project, ensuring seamless execution of lighting installations and enhancing audience experiences for our clients.

Bryan Andrew Dela Cruz Warehouse Manager

Languages Spoken: English, Filipino Tagalog

Bryan is a seasoned logistics professional with over 14 years of experience in supply chain management, import/export, and warehouse operations. He possesses a strong blend of technical skills in SAP, Microsoft Dynamics, and warehouse management systems, coupled with in-depth knowledge of INCO terms and lean management principles. His strong background in customer service ensures a client-centric approach, while his experience as an instructor demonstrates his ability to effectively train and lead teams.

Ela Fe Orteza Villarin Crew Manager

Languages Spoken: English, Filipino Tagalog

Ela, our Crew Manager, brings a diverse skill set and impressive efficiency to our team. She excels in managing freelance technicians by sourcing talent, coordinating travels, optimizing schedules, ensuring quality, and maintaining documentation—key responsibilities that are crucial for the success of our events. In addition to her expertise in crew management, Ela is proficient in office administration and executive secretarial duties, making her an invaluable asset to our organization.