In a nutshell
Zafer Ertem's journey starts in Hamburg but truly unfolds in Vienna, where he roots himself in an entrepreneurial mindset from a young age. At just 18, he makes waves by earning recognition as the youngest entrepreneur and manager in "Gewinn," a prominent business magazine in Austria. He is an entrepreneur with a passion for taking the initiative and reinventing himself in different sectors. Ertem is driven by curiosity and a visionary attitude, allowing him to consistently excel in diverse fields.
Today, he splits his life between Munich and Antalya, where he thrives on the balance of culture and commerce. For 30 years, he has shared a happy marriage and raised three children, all while building a career that spans business consultancy, project management, and conflict mediation.
Recently, Zafer has shifted his focus to sustainability and fair ecology, channeling decades of knowledge and experience into projects that aim for a better future. His passion extends beyond business; he actively engages in social initiatives, leading numerous volunteer projects and founding various associations.
This blend of professional achievements and community involvement perfectly encapsulates Zafer's life philosophy—a commitment to both innovation and social responsibility. In his eyes, each endeavor connects, adding layers to his vibrant life story.
33 years
of professional experience
51 years
of life experience
100%
lateral Thinker
August 1974
After the birth of his sister, he was born on 29 August 1974 in Hamburg, Germany. His parents migrated to Germany from Izmir in the 70s.
1990-1992
Following the completion of his training as a graphic designer in Vienna, Austria, Zafer Ertem had the opportunity to work for a large company for two years. During this time, he was able to gain valuable experience designing labels for wines, posters for events and logos. Additionally, he had the chance to work as a freelance consultant in the fields of finance and business start-ups.
1992-1996
At the young age of 18, he founded his first company in Vienna, Austria. The focus was on milk and dairy products. At that time, Austria was not yet a member of the European Union. He had done a lot of research into what market changes would occur when Austria became a member of the EU, because it was not a question of whether Austria would join the EU but only when. The strategy worked. For several months, he was one of the largest importers of white cow's milk cheese in Austria and even imported the first “Bioghurt” yoghurt to Austria. The business magazine Gewinn portrayed him in its special edition "Austria's youngest entrepreneurs".
1996 - 1998
The first Viennese pizza rescue company is founded. - Due to the infrastructure of the city of Vienna, Zafer develops a concept that directly addresses pizzerias all over Vienna. It is a catering wholesale on wheels, including a frozen food section. A novelty at the time. After initial difficulties, the business developed excellently, resulting in several fleets of vehicles, which were later sold to another company.
“Strategy provides the fine motor skills of an action, yielding good results only when the cultures and current events are taken into consideration.”
— Zafer Ertem
1998 - 2001
Rethinking the bakery: Ertem was one of the first bakeries in Austria to open a bakery in Vienna where fresh bread was baked every 30 minutes. The concept was initially met with scepticism, but customers quickly recognised the benefits. After a short time, it became a well-known concept, and after a second branch was opened, a large bakery chain purchased it in its entirety.
2001-2003
The opening of Austria's inaugural mega merchandising store in Vienna, situated in the esteemed Mariahilfer Straße within the Gerngross department stores, which were established in 1889. The megastore included the largest Disney store, the largest Sanrio store and the largest Looney Tunes store in Austria. Zafer Ertem was also the first to recognise the potential of 'Lord of the Rings' and 'Harry Potter'. With Austria's largest selection of merchandise on these themes, Ertem had a unique selling point, as the films were not even in cinemas at the time.
2003-2004
Zafer Ertem opened one of the largest Sanrio shops outside Japan in Vienna and later in Munich. It was a time when Hello Kitty products were booming, and he was at the forefront of the market.
2004-2006
When the second Gulf War commenced in 2003, only a few journalists were willing to venture into the conflict zone. Zafer Ertem therefore decided to study television journalism in Munich with the intention of reporting on the war crimes committed by the USA. During and after his studies, he worked as a freelance journalist for RTL Munich, TV Munich, Sat1 Bayern and many other TV stations. He has produced a great many reports. When he was ready to travel to the war region as a war correspondent, his wife advised him against it. He therefore remained in Munich and continued to work in the media industry.
2005-2012
Zafer Ertem has been fortunate to work with some highly regarded labels, including Warner Music and Tresor TV. He has also had the opportunity to gain valuable experience as a PR manager for a number of well-known musicians, including Jamie Shaw, Alev, the girl group Monrose and Vivian. Ertem also had the opportunity to work as a strategic consultant for the internationalisation of the largest live TV music show in the world, 'The Dome', on behalf of MME and RTL II. Zafer Ertem was pleased to produce his first music video shot abroad for the most famous Turkish rapper, CEZA, and was even fortunate enough to play a small role in it.
2008 - 2009
Production of comedy news programmes under the name ‘CNC News’ with presenter Henry Gründler, who had achieved great fame on RTL's Friday Night News. The main customer for the production was ‘My Spaß’, which was founded by Germany's most famous comedy actor Bully Herbig. Zafer Ertem was the creative mind behind the concept, as well as being the producer, cameraman and editor. The comedy scripts were written by famous authors who work daily for Stefan Raab, Christian Tramitz, Anke Engelke and many more. Here the link to MYSPASS
