People

Claus Karthe is Associated Partner of Matrixs. He has extensive technological and managerial experience having worked with Alcatel and Nokia Corporation in various operational roles from engineering to regional management for over 17 years. He also has a proven entrepreneurial background, having held leadership and advisory positions in a diverse range of start-ups in Asia and Europe.

Claus Karthe served as President of Nokia Philippines from 1994 to 2001, developing the business from zero to a steady 500m US$ annual revenue. He was Chairman of the Board of Nokia Philippines and of several other Nokia subsidiaries, managing the Networks Business in North East Asia including Japan, Korea and Taiwan, and serving as a Business Board member of Nokia in the Asia Pacific region.

His strong interpersonal, consulting and coaching skills combined with solid Engineering and Business Administration degrees in a wide industrial and geographical context enabled him to realize his entrepreneurial dreams with the creation of several technology ventures, including Wireless Services Asia. Amongst other advisory and leadership roles, he chairs the Board of Intex Holdings Corporation and is a Director in Intex Systems Pte Ltd, of which he was also a founder.

After sailing around the world in the Clipper Venture Race 2005/2006, serving as watchleader on SS ‘Uniquely Singapore’, Claus Karthe today is an advisor and coach to corporate entrepreneurs in the fields of Business Planning, Funding, General Management, Technology, Marketing Strategy and Implementation, supporting associated reorganization with solid change management. He is also active in Asian charity projects, among others, Bridgeit, which was realised by combining the research and development resources of Nokia, International Youth Foundation (IYF), Pearson and UNDP, to launch a global program to deliver digital education materials to schools using mobile technology.