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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 over 30 years in the event production industry, Alex Würfel is a recognised expert in event engineering, technical consultancy, and rigging. Early in his career, he worked with legendary artists like U2, The Rolling Stones, and Madonna, delivering world-class technical solutions. Since 2006, Alex has focused on the Middle East, where he built ESME Group into a leading event engineering company with operations in the UAE, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia. Under his leadership, ESME has delivered major events such as the Burj Khalifa and Ferrari World openings, as well as National Day celebrations. Alex’s expertise in event security, rigging, and project management has been crucial to ESME’s role in global sporting events and international showcases. His commitment to safety, innovation, and growth continues to drive the company forward.

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.

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!   

 

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.

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.

Sangeeta Santhosh Group Finance Manager

Languages Spoken: English, Kannada, Tamil, Hindi, Urdu, Malayalam

Sangeeta brings over two decades of experience to our team. As a Senior Accountant, she’s adept at managing complex financial operations, ensuring compliance, and fostering strong relationships with stakeholders. Sangeeta’s passion for excellence and adaptability in dynamic environments make her an invaluable asset to the team while continually driving success in the financial and accounting department of ES:ME.

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!

Fatma Abdullah AlGhamdi Business Development Manager

Languages Spoken: Arabic, English

Fatma is an experienced event planner with over 6 years in the industry, brings creativity, flexibility, and strong leadership. Her background includes managing customer experience and digital transformation programs at Huawei, leading business development efforts at PROTEC ARABIA, and coordinating events as an Event Specialist at Nawahel Al Riyadh. Fatma also holds certifications in Project Management, sports event management, and creative thinking, along with a solid educational foundation.

Kevin Crossley Asset 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!

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.

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.

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.

Adam Mason Head of Rigging

Languages Spoken: English

Director and Owner of AM Rope Access and Training Ltd, has over 15 years of experience in rigging and industrial rope access. Certified in IRATA Rope Access Level 3, PPE Inspection, and First Aid, Adam has led major projects like the World Cup in Qatar and Founder’s Day in Riyadh, demonstrating his expertise in working at height, rescue training, and site supervision. His extensive knowledge and leadership make him an invaluable asset to our team.

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.

Max Bagehorn Technical Project Manager

Languages Spoken: German, English

With over a decade of experience in rigging and event services across the Middle East, Max our Technical Project Manager brings his extensive expertise in live and corporate event planning, team leadership, and warehouse logistics. He also has a solid track record in optimising operations and integrating multiple AV disciplines. His deep network of industry contacts and strong problem-solving skills are invaluable assets to the team.

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.