Professional Council 
Duties of the Professional Council
The Professional Council of The Global Executive Network monitors the professional quality of the Events. The principal goals are to refine the topic contents and to recognize new trends in their early stages so that they can be developed quickly into Events. This means that The Global Executive Network Events are always extremely market-relevant.
The Professional Council was established in October 2006. It is composed of managers from different industries who illuminate Events and Event topics from their individual points of view. The Global Executive Network Events benefit from the many years of experience of the Professional Council members in a wide variety of industries and the concentration of this know-how. Regular meetings and supplemental telephone conferences ensure efficient, rapid, and targeted collaboration.
The Members of the Professional Council
Andreas Schneider
"Continuous optimization requires a well-structured organization with space for the development of new solutions. I support the idea of this forum concerning the presentation of new solutions and trends in industry and staffing with conclusive analyses in discussions and networking, because the impetus thereby created becomes the driver for continuing innovation and optimizing in the interests of both parties."
Andreas Schneider oversees Resource Vendor Budget Management for Global Data Operations of Schwarz BioSciences, which since October 2007 has been a member company of the UCB Group. Before joining the pharmaceutical industry, Mr. Schneider worked in university research in neurobiology, the field in which he earned his Doctoral degree. His work in the pharmaceutical industry focused increasingly on quality management in networked operations areas (Drug Safety, Data Management Clinical Development, R&D Systems, Global Data Operations). As a member of the Professional Council, Mr. Schneider focuses on feedback and optimization options.
Martina Rothe Obregon
"Never before has the world been so interconnected and never before has the world changed more rapidly than nowadays. An open, collaborative mindset is the basis to operate successfully in todays business environment. As member of the advisory board at
'The Global Executive Network', I am looking forward to interacting with professionals from diverse fields and hope to enrich the advisory board with my broad experiences in the area of International Marketing in leading global FMCG companies".
Martina Rothe Obregon is Chief Marketing Officer of the Freixenet Group, the producer of the world’s leading sparkling wine brand. She started her professional career at Procter & Gamble, where she held several Marketing positions in Venezuela, Germany and later on in Spain. She continued her professional trajectory within the FMCG sector in Spain, holding senior Marketing positions in CotyBeauty and the Sara Lee Company. Martina Rothe Obregon obtained an MBA and M.A. from the University of Miami, USA.
Udo Bieletzki
"The speed with which new trends are converted into Events with drawing power and persuasive content is what attracts me to
'The Global Executive Network'. As Council member I enjoy working on the designing of Events that offer genuine added value and are an exact fit with the needs of the market."
Udo Bieletzki is Information Officer Corporate IT at Evonik Industries AG. In his previous IT management positions as Senior Vice President IT/Organisation with RAG Coal International AG and data processing manager with RTL2, his responsibilities included complex IT governance and compliance management projects and the introduction of the corporate portal. At RTL2 he introduced a corporate solution for program planning and administration. As Council member, because of his background in industrial IT management Udo Bieletzki represents the target audience for The Global Executive Network Events and contributes his experience and evaluation of trends to everyday practice.
Gudrun Tauer
"Compressed exchange of knowledge in lectures and networking among attendees with similar interests: that’s the most suitable and persuasive combination.
The continuous refinement of presentations and development of the The Global
Executive Network concept, to which I contribute as member of the Professional Council, ensure the continued high quality of the Events."
Gudrun Tauer is manager of IT strategie and control in the corporate information management area of Deutsche Lufthansa AG. Her duties range from corporate IT strategy to IT innovation management to formulation of questions concerning IT architecture. In connection with these duties she monitors company-wide working groups and communities working toward Best Practice exchange and innovation projects with cross-business topics. Previously she worked as IT Control manager for corporate-wide monitoring of IT costs at Thomas Cook AG.
Heiko Scharding
"'The Global Executive Network' events allow me to to learn about current trends quickly and without complications. In particular, the exchanges with participants from a wide variety of industries are of enormous value to me.
As Council member, I enjoy collaborating on future-oriented topics and innovations."
Heiko Scharding manages the department "Enterprise Content Mangement & Master Data" in the Corporate IT section at Kuehne + Nagel (AG & Co.) KG in Hamburg. He is globally responsible for all document management and output management solutions, master data management, HR IT solutions as well as all Internet, Intranet and Web 2.0 solutions. Heiko Scharding holds an MBA degree from the Kuehne School of Management and Logistics.
Alexander Krotz
"Networking is important, and in fast-moving industries it’s indispensable—everyone realizes that now. The
'Global Executive Network' concept is unique and opens completely new avenues for coming into contact with other people in the same industry, in an appropriate and style-conscious context. I was won over by this concept at my first Executive Dinner. I’m happy to contribute my ideas as a member of the Professional Council."
Alexander Krotz works in the central IT department of the German Central Bank in Frankfurt, where he manages the working unit that is responsible for second level support and the supply process for mobile work stations and eCollaboration sollutions. He has been a member of management since 2005, and also has experience with major infrastructure projects.
Andreas Blass
"In today's global world and multi-cultural business society professional interaction and viewpoints on essential issues are vital for progress and innovation. The Advisory Board of
'The Global Executive Network' perfectly reflects this and is a perfect platform to promote and distribute those critical success values."
Andreas Blass is currently CEO at BQB Lineas Aéreas Uruguay - and Commercial Director of Grupo Buquebus in Brasil, both duties are located in Latinamerica. As German executive with experience in tourism & aviation, especially International Airlines, ‘network’, ‘low cost’ and ‘regional’ carriers he will link his new international duties to Europe. Previously he worked in Europe leading different companies as CEO at Excelsis Arways (London); Islas Arways (Canary Islands, Spain) and Binter Canarias Airline (Canary Islands); Hapag-Lloyd Express as member of the Start-Up Team (Madrid); Spanair (Palma Mallorca), SAS Scandinavian Airlines (Hamburg) or TRACO Travel Consulting.
Johannes Müller
"Networked thinking is the basis for working in networks.The concept of The Global Executive Network (G.E.N.) brings both pieces together and is exactly what decision-makers and people in executive business functions need. As an expert on the
Professional Council, I am actively contributing to designing this concept."
Johannes Müller manages the department "Integrated Management System (IMS)" at Fresenius Medical Care, the worldwide market leader for dialysis products and procedures. Fresenius Medical Care brings medical engineering products as well as pharmaceutical products on the market in order to cover the needs of dialysis patients in an integrated way.
Mr. Müller’s field of responsibility ranges from cross-linking and further developing the processes and best practices used within the company to connecting them to an integrated system within the whole group.
Before, he steered his professional career from an international course of studies in medical engineering via a time spent working for Siemens Medical Solutions USA to an expert position dealing with internationally regulated product approvals and quality management systems.
Peter Pietsch
"More than ever before, world-wide interaction and global networking is vital for professional work in all business fields. The Global Executive Network offers a platform, which enables a new approach to today´s business environment focussing on solutions and not problems. As a member of the Professional Council of The Global Executive Network, I want to dedicate my experience and legal expertise to the promotion of this unique networking concept."
Peter Pietsch is a highly experienced lawyer in Germany with close professional connections to colleagues all over Europe. He is specialized in Private International Law and Family Law. He is not only author and co-author of several publications but also engaged in the training of german lawyers in the mentioned specialized areas, including the enforcement of titles in other countries. Peter Pietsch has been running his own law firm for more than 25 years.
Philippe Perrodin
"When I was approached to join the Global Executive Network, I immediately was positive for the opportunity given to exchange views with business colleagues, benchmark and contribute. As an active member I look forward to expanding the concept."
Philippe Perrodin is VP Group Financial Control for the Tetra Pak Group. As the Global Process owner for finance he owns the process from transactions outsourcing to management information tool and standards, he is responsible for adequate controls and control frame work. In addition he oversights data collections, consolidation and is responsible for Group business analysis.
He began his professional career in the Dresdner Bank in Germany, move to a machine tool making company in the UK (Charmilles) and joined Tetra Pak where he worked since in Canada and Switzerland. At Tetra Pak he managed large projects; occupied Business Control positions in major divisions, was part of executive’s management teams and travelled professionally in most countries.
Heike Fölster
"My very first visit to a 'Global Executive Network' event was enough to persuade me that the idea and the concept were good. Nowhere else I
will find this ideal mix of knowledge transfer, networking, and use of time: ideal for managers. As a member of the Professional Council, I’d like to work toward the further expansion of this concept."
Heike Fölster is Manager for Finance & Accounting at the ship certification firm of Germanische Lloyd AG, located in Hamburg. She previously held similar internationally-oriented positions in mid-sized companies in the transport and mechanical engineering industries. She began her professional career after training in banking and interning with Mobil Oil AG. Her area of expertise is in process optimization in finance, ranging from SAP implementations to introduction of control instruments to production shifting to other countries. As a finance manager with a solid background, Ms. Fölster represents the interest of the target audience for The Global Executive Network events, and brings her experience to bear on future trends and needs.
Marcel R. Gamma
"I was convinced by the unique idea and concept of the 'Global Executive Network' Platform initiated by Martin Hegi already after the first participation on an official event. The combination of topics and people participating presented in an exceptional environment allows a very efficient knowledge transfer and an enriched networking. Due to that I have accepted the invitation to the
Professional Council of new media sales to actively participate on the further development of this platform".
Marcel R. Gamma is Global Head Integration at Credit Suisse the leading Banking Company in Switzerland with more than 47'000 employees globally and active in over 50 countries. Before joining Credit Suisse Marcel R. Gamma held a number of senior management functions at Hewlett Packard, Swissair Group and UBS. Marcel R. Gamma holds a degree in economics from the University of St.Gallen and an MBA of Brunell University in UK.
Juan Jose Foncillas Roselló
"The Global Executive Network has developed a very interesting concept for cross-sector and cross-functional events that offer valuable opportunities for both professional and personal networking. The exchange of experiences with other managers expands my vision and understanding of different sectors. I want to contribute to the Professional Council of The Global Executive Network by enriching the multicultural, international and cross-sector aspects of networking, three qualities that are going to be more and more crucial as globalization is playing an increasingly bigger role in today’s business environment."
Juan Jose Foncillas is currently Director of Santander Global Properties in Germany, Austria and Switzerland (Grupo Banco Santander) based in Berlin. His company belongs to one of the leading Spanish commercial and investment banks worldwide. He leads the real estate market in all german speaking countries in Central Europe. As Spaniard he has an international background after having studied Law in Barcelona and European Law and Commercial Policy in Freiburg (Germany). Previously to the current duties he had worked as Lawyer at the Roca Puig & Ramón Abogados and Ebame Abogados, both in Barcelona, leading the German Desk. He was also Managing Director of Tarraco Air, SL.
