Experts insights, markets and industry innovation

Stefano Martinelli is the Vice President of Amazon in the UAE and KSA, based out of Dubai. Spearheading the business’ growth across the region, Martinelli and his team are guided by four principles: customer obsession, passion for invention, commitment to operational excellence, and long-term thinking.

Martinelli started his career at Amazon back in 2011, launching Amazon.it for Italian customers. He spent over eight years in launch roles across the business, before taking on the role of GCC Retail Director, in Dubai, in 2020. In his current role, Martinelli continues to be focused on providing customers with a localized service, trusted online shopping experience, an ever-growing array of products and services, paired with great prices, as well as convenience through various payment options and fast delivery.

Prior to his role with Amazon, Stefano led tech teams within a multinational web company for four years. He also worked in HR for three years driving organizational projects, and was in management consulting for seven years. Stefano holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Management Engineering from Politecnico di Milano in Italy.

• Product & Business Development Manager
• 54 years old, married
• Backgroud: Mechanical Engineering / Energy Technology
• More than 25 Years Academic and Industrial Experience
• Product Manager Hengst Filtration Germany last 4 Years
• Business field: Filtration in Power generation and Oil & Gas
• Global Business with focus on Middle East & north Africa Market

Cagri studied in mechanical engineering at Istanbul Technical University in Türkiye and MSc in International Management at University of Surrey Roehampton in UK.

Cagri has been working for ExxonMobil around 17 years and leads the Strategic Accounts in MENA region for Hygiene and nonwoven industries.

He has had several roles in commercial leadership positions at ExxonMobil in Finished Lubricants, Base Stocks, Intermediates and PolyPropylene/Specialty Polymer business units.

Cagri is based with her family in Istanbul-Türkiye and is passionate about archeology, nature, music, and cultures.

Dr. Marcel Gruendken is a global manager in the specialty chemical industry at Kuraray. He is leading technical and market developments and is responsible for elastic components in absorbent hygiene products. Previously, he worked in the consumer industry for packaging and disposable hygiene products - in Europe and the United States. His background is in materials & technology. He has studied in Darmstadt (Germany) and Enschede (Netherlands). He joined some global management programs, including one in St. Gallen (Switzerland) - and obtained a driving license in Frankfurt (Germany). On flights he prefers the windows seat, enjoys soft drinks with ice and plays basketball whenever he has have time.

Dr. Gruendken will present "Precious moments start with elastics":

• Elastic components in diapers, trends and requirements
• Odor exposure of different materials
• Designing films and stretch laminates
• Sustainable materials

Christopher Gunson is a partner based in the Dubai office.  He represents numerous multinational companies on all aspects of business in the Middle East region. This work includes commercial transactions, strategic investments, joint ventures, and regulatory compliance.

He is fluent in Japanese and much of his practice involves representing and advising Japanese businesses on matters in the Middle East region.

In addition to his corporate and commercial work, Chris conducts substantial work in the oil and gas sector, and he is a frequent author and commentator in news media concerning developments in the oil and gas sector in Abu Dhabi and Iraq.

Alberto is graduated in mechanical engineering, Master’ s degree at Politecnico di Milano university.

 After six years spent in Oil & Gas sector, he moved to Disposable Hygiene market to develop new skills and understand different business dynamics.

Alberto is currently working as Area Sales Manager, with the role of leading sales & market development and be responsible for GDM growth in Middle East and India regions.

His strong technical background and commercial experience are provided to customers with the aim of finding best solution for a “win to win” strategy.

 Passion for travels and sports, he enjoys spending time with other people to immerse himself in different cultures and behaviors.

Arnaud is gratuated in Mechanical and Industrial Manufacturing Process with a Master‘s Degree Engineering from the University of Technology Belfort-Montbéliard (France).

He has joined ANDRITZ Perfojet in 1999, serving initially as Project Manager and moved to Sales department in 2004, developping markets for complete nonwovens lines in various areas such as China, Turkey and Far East countries.

Chris Malowaniec joined our industry over 40 years ago, first working in the R&D of VPN in Nuremberg, the past 36 years active at Paul Hartmann as Head of R&D and Corporate Communications. Now, retired, he offers his knowledge and experience as an independent consultant, KDM Management Consultancy Firm. His hobbies are music, hunting and wine.

Jacques Prigneaux leads EDANA’s Market Analysis and Economic Affairs department and provides industry analyses to the nonwovens community.

He graduated with a Masters degree in Economics from the Catholic University of Louvain (Belgium) and he focused his researches in industrial economics and econometrics. He has been with EDANA since April 2007. Before that he worked for CIRFS, the association of European man-made fibres’ producers for ten years.

He is responsible for managing research, market analysis and statistical activities at EDANA.

Rami Rajab serves as the Chief Executive Officer of Mecomed, the trade association for Medical Devices, Diagnostics, and Imaging Industries in the Middle East and Africa. His leadership extends beyond this pivotal role, contributing to several regional and international trade associations through active involvement in various focus groups.

With a robust career spanning 37 years, Rami is recognized as a multidisciplinary healthcare expert. He boasts comprehensive experience in commercial leadership, organizational change management, and holistic healthcare industry engagement. His expertise lies in pinpointing opportunities and fostering collaborations across the global healthcare landscape. Throughout his career, Rami has seamlessly donned hats across Sales & Marketing, Market Access, ESG, and various Trade Association roles.

His professional drive centers on enhancing patient lives and catalysing healthcare transformation through stakeholder engagement, innovation, education, and corporate social responsibility.

Rami's global footprint is evident in his diverse roles across multiple geographies, including the Middle East & Africa, Europe, Latin America, South and South-East Asia, and China. His portfolio further expanded as he took on global leadership responsibilities. A notable milestone in his journey was his role in the merger and integration of Cyberonics and Sorin Group, leading to the establishment of LivaNova.

His deep insights into market dynamics stem from continuous interaction with a broad spectrum of stakeholders in the Healthcare Ecosystem. This includes engagements with government officials, hospital conglomerates, International Medical Associations, and global healthcare bodies. He frequently collaborates on pressing issues related to health policy, innovation, ethics, compliance, legislation, sustainability, and reimbursement.

Dr. Karsten Voss joined H.B. Fuller in 2015 after his post-doctoral research in the field of polymer science at the Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok, Thailand and the University of Rostock, Germany. Before completing his research, he received a doctorate and master’s degree in chemistry grade from the University of Rostock.

Dr. Voss works in the research and development group for the EIMEA region. He is responsible for all hygiene-related hot melt adhesive solution developments, and with his expertise, he drives innovations for the hygiene market.

Dr Voss will present "Key parameters to optimize core integrity in thinner core diapers":

• Parameters that influence core integrity: Core Forming Process, Fluff Core Density and Shape
• Different Core Designs driving consumer satisfaction
• Adhesive enabling thinner cores designs

Graduate in Chemistry, University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology, UK and Business Management at Ashridge Business School, UK.

Almost 30 years as Vice President of Sales and Marketing with BBA Nonwovens in Asia Pacific region responsible for Hygiene,  Medical and Industrial industry before joining Jofo Nonwovens China in 2011. Presently, Senior Vice President in Sales of Jofo Group in China and Deputy General Manager of Jofo joint venture in Saudi Arabia, SAAF. Have been a very active veteran of the nonwoven industry and serving as Secretary of Hong Kong Nonwovens Association for more than 20 years.