Executive Office

Ron Andruff,
President and CEO

As founder and former president & CEO of Tralliance Corporation, the .travel Registry, Mr. Andruff has a depth of experience and a history in establishing new top-level domains (TLDs) almost as long as the commercial Internet itself.  Having been intimately involved in the developmental process and rollout of the .travel TLD, he has cultivated stellar relationships within the ICANN community, a wealth of resources, and a clear perspective on the future of the Internet.  Prior to establishing Tralliance, as co-founder of fare 1, Inc., Mr. Andruff created the first business-to-trade web site company that empowered travel agents to harness the Internet and provide their clients with the lowest available fares. 

With .sport, Mr. Andruff returns to his roots.  As a professional ice hockey player, his nine-year career included five championships - three in the National Hockey League, one in the American Hockey League and one in the German Bundesliga - as well as several All-Star and Scoring Champion awards.  Following his pro career he founded and served as president of a pan-European sports marketing company.  Mr. Andruff's distinguished career spans 25 years of international marketing experience in other industry sectors, providing him with the essential tools to lead the global .sport initiative.  

Mr. Andruff's current sport passions include kite-boarding, alpine skiing, and motorcycling.
 
 

Cherian Mathai,
Chief Financial Officer

As co-founder and former Chief Operating Officer of Tralliance Corporation, Mr. Mathai has hands-on experience in all aspects of top-level domain (TLD) operations. Prior to Tralliance Corporation, Mr. Mathai was also a co-founder and CFO of fare 1, Inc.  Having received his Masters degree from Columbia University (New York), he brings over 20 years of corporate finance experience, a wealth of key relationships, and a seasoned operations background to the company.  Mr. Mathai is a member of the board of directors of Pervasip Corp., a publicly traded IP-based communications service provider, headquartered in New York.
 
An avid sports enthusiast, particularly cricket and soccer, Mr. Mathai understands the dotSport LLC market and how to meet its expectations.
 

 

Al Karaki,
Convergence

Mr. Karaki comes to dotSport LLC by way of the e-Africa Commission for the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD).  At NEPAD he was responsible for managing all Africa based e-Projects - which include e2010 (an initiative to expose the 2010 Soccer World Cup to all African nations via satellite), e-Tourism (developing the single tourism website portal representing all 53 African countries) and e-Schools (provision of online learning resources for schools across the African continent). Mr. Karaki's extensive experience and numerous accomplishments in establishing, developing and managing large ICT (information and communication technology) projects at every level of society provide dotSport LLC with the know-how to assemble, integrate and implement its digital media / convergence platform.

Athletically, Mr. Karaki has been a representative of the International Ski Federation (FIS) via the Canadian Ski Association.  He also studies martial arts, enjoys mountain biking and playing squash.



Jens Thraenhart,
Engagement

With more than 15 years of international experience in sales & marketing, e-business, strategic planning, and hospitality consulting, and having worked with such illustrious companies as Fairmont, Four Seasons, Ian Schrager Hotels, Kempinski, and most recently with the Canadian Tourism Commission, Mr. Thraenhart brings a wealth of knowledge and capability to the .sport initiative from his hospitality background.

He holds an MBA-accredited Masters of Management in Hospitality from the School of Hotel Administration at Cornell University, and a joint Bachelor of Science in International Hospitality Management from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, and the University Center 'Cesar Ritz' at Brig, Switzerland.  Recognized as one of the 25 Most Extraordinary Sales and Marketing Minds in Hospitality and Travel in 2004 and again in 2005, Mr. Thraenhart is often quoted and is a contributor to numerous articles, white papers and textbooks on e-commerce.  Mr. Thraenhart has served on the Global Board and the Americas Board of Directors of HSMAI, as well as North America Board for the International Federation for IT and Travel & Tourism (IFITT).

A consummate competitor, Mr. Thraenhart was a track and field athlete, a specialist in the 100 meters in his younger years; he now enjoys tennis, golf and alpine skiing.