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COMPANY PROFILE
COMPANY PROFILE: ES:ME ENTERTAINMENT SERVICES ES:ME ENTERTAINMENT SERVICES CEO ALEX WUERFEL REFLECTS ON AN EXCITING TIME FOR THE COMPANY AND SHARES HIS VISION OF REGIONAL AND GLOBAL EXPANSION.
With over 25 years in the business, working with the likes of U2, The Rolling Stones, Tina Turner, Phil Collins, Madonna and AC/DC, it’s fair to say that Alex Wuerfel knows a thing or two when it comes to the live events industry. Back in 2007, Wuerfel joined forces with fellow industry professional René Karnahl to found Even2 The Rigging Specialists, based in Al Jaddaf Dubai Free Zone. As the company grew, a separate division, ES:ME Entertainment Services, was formed, with branches in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Doha, as well as a warehouse in Dammam, Saudi Arabia, offering turnkey events services to clients all over the Middle East. With the company providing full-service solutions for some of the largest events in
ME
the region – including the 2021 FIFA Arab Cup Opening Ceremony in Doha – it is now uniting under the ES:ME banner, with the Even2 brand being phased out. “We’ve stepped up our game recently in terms of marketing and brand recognition, and it was always going to be a matter of time before we merged all the areas of the business under the ES:ME brand,” explained Wuerfel. “The two companies became basically the same, so it makes perfect sense to channel all our resources into developing ES:ME Entertainment Services, rather than having two brands competing with each other.” The development comes at an exciting time for the company, with the appointment of two new General Managers, Rob Handley and Martin Lauth, who will oversee the regional operations
of the business. “Rob is full throttle on Qatar with the FIFA World Cup as well as helping me with the development of standardised processes throughout the company, while Martin is taking care of the UAE and Saudi Arabia,” Wuerfel outlined, noting his long-standing relationships with his two new GMs. “I’ve known Martin for more than 20 years from the days before PRG bought Procon. We’ve been working on bringing them in for a while, so it’s a big boost the finally get it over the line.” According to Wuerfel, the new appointments will pave the way for international development. “Having Rob and Martin in place allows me to focus more on my role as CEO and gives me the opportunity to look further afield at developing international projects outside the Middle East,” he
