Management Team

Erik Masing, has led alfabet since he co-founded the company in Berlin, Germany, in 1997.

Before alfabet, Erik founded and led two other companies, bmp management consulting GmbH and mip AG, which paved the way for alfabet. From 1991 to 1993 he was a senior manager for the defense and hi-tech sector at HBS Consulting Partners.

Erik has received numerous awards of distinction for business innovation, including an Elite of the Future award by the German Economist magazine in 2000. In 2001, along with alfabet co-founder Dr. Oleg Kovrigin, he was selected for the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year award. Masing is also a member of BITKOM and the ENF (Elite Network Foundation).

He holds an MBA in Business Administration from the European Business School.

Oleg Kovrigin, has served as Chief Technology Officer of alfabet since he co-founded the company in Berlin, Germany, in 1997.

Before alfabet, Oleg co-founded mip AG in 1995 which paved the way for alfabet. Prior to that Oleg served at the Russian Academy of Science, Institute of System Analysis as a senior researcher and later as Head of the Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence department.

Oleg has written articles and been published in over 20 publications on Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence. In 1998, he wrote a book entitled, "Medical Expert Systems, published in Russia. In 2001, along with alfabet co-founder Erik Masing, he was selected for the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year award.

He holds a Doctorate in Computer Science from the Moscow Aviation University.

Frank Schiewer, has served as alfabet's Chief Sales Officer since joining the company in 2005.

Before alfabet, Frank was Vice President at think3 for Central and Northern Europe as well as Country Manager for Germany with J.D. Edwards. Over the course of his career he has held various executive and management positions in international enterprise software providers including SSA Central Europe, Marcam Solutions, IFS Germany and TelesensKSCL AG.

He is an honors graduate from the sports academy in Cologne.

Ulrich Kalex, has served as Vice President Product Line Management responsible for product strategy and roadmap since joining alfabet in 2005.

Before alfabet, Ulrich held positions of increasing responsibility at i2 Technologies most recently as Product Manager Downstream Oil and Gas. From 1994 to 1998 he was a consultant and developer for various companies such as Numetrix and Monsanto. Kalex has also lectured on information technology and mathematics at the Bauhaus University in Weimar, Germany.

He holds a Doctorate in Mathematics from the Dresden Technical University.

Thomas Dürre, has served as alfabet's Vice President Finance responsible for finance, controlling and investor relations since joining the company in 1998.

Before alfabet, Thomas served as Financial Controller of 150 capital investment ventures, in the BFI's capital investment portfolio. He began his career in international finance and accounting at Ernst & Young as an Audit Manager for international mandates.

He holds an MBA in Managerial Economics from the University of Cologne.

Martin Clemm, has served at Vice President Corporate Affairs and corporate Attorney since joining alfabet in 2000.

Before alfabet, he practiced law in the areas of insurance, banking, civil engineering and liability law for medical practitioners for the Feddersen Laule Ewerwahn Scherzberg Finkelnburg Clemm law firm Berlin. He also served in restitution proceedings for Curry Houseman Popeck law firm in London.

He holds a Doctorate in Juris Prudence from the Free University Berlin and passed his state law exams at the Superior Court of Justice (Kammergericht) in Berlin.

Jürgen Bonn, joined alfabet in 2001 and is serving as Senior Vice President Sales since 2005.

Before alfabet, Jürgen was a partner at Deloitte leading the Strategic IT Management Competence Center for Europe. After beginning his career in 1990 at Anderson Consulting (now Accenture), he has held executive and management positions in consultancies including MC Team AG and Diebold Consulting.

He holds an honors degree in Communication Engineering from the Technical University Darmstadt.

Rene Hermes has led marketing at alfabet since joining the company in 2010.

Before alfabet, Rene was Vice President Marketing at CoreMedia. He has held senior global executive management positions at Definiens, Genesys Telecommunications Laboratories (now part of Alcatel-Lucent) and Progress Software.

He holds a Bachelor's Degree in Management Information Systems and Marketing from the Hogere Economische School in the Hague.

Udo Straesser, has served as Director APAC, alfabet PTE Ltd based in Singapore since joining alfabet in 2007.

Prior to joining alfabet, Udo was Country Manager for Ericsson Germany GmbH where he was responsible for Ericsson’s multimedia platform IPX. Before Ericsson, he held several senior sales positions at TIBCO Software Inc. lastly with global account responsibility serving the strategic accounts.

Udo holds more than 10 years sales experience serving exclusively global and leading software vendors. He has lived in the USA, South Africa and Germany.

Guy Schroen, has served as Vice President, Sales for the United States and Americas region since joining alfabet in early 2007 with responsibility for growing the companies’ business in that region.

Prior to joining alfabet, Guy has served as Sales Executive and Regional Manager at Mercury Interactive (now a HP Company). Thereafter he served as Business Development Manager at International Network Services (not a BT Company), Lucent and lastly as Regional Manager at Kintana.

Guy brings more than 20 years of experience of Fortune 500 experience to his role at alfabet.