Markus Oberlin is the CEO of Farnek, a multi-award-winning smart and green facilities management company based in the UAE. With 9,000 employees and operations across all seven Emirates, Farnek is a leader in its field.
As a certified engineer / MBA with over 25 years’ experience in the field of energy and FM, Markus joined Farnek in 2006 and, over the past 18 years, has been instrumental not only in its exponential business growth but also in its implementation of technology and innovation which has seen the digital transformation of the company’s business model.
In 2013, Farnek acquired home maintenance company Hitches and Glitches and three years later bought technical cleaning company Smashing! These strategic moves expanded Farnek’s residential and specialised cleaning market share.
Having witnessed extraordinary growth in the hotel sector, in 2021, Farnek formed a dedicated hospitality division, branded ‘Trendz’, a market leader in hospitality outsourcing services today.
His most recent milestone was the launch of Hitek Services in 2022. Hitek connects, innovates, and empowers any business activity, achieving greater cost savings and operational efficiency through bespoke digital FM solutions powered by cloud, mobility, IoT, and AI platforms.
Being a Swiss national, Markus is also passionate about sustainability. He has successfully positioned Farnek as a leader in sustainability with a combination of expert consultancy and digital solutions which can manage energy and carbon performance and waste management. He also launched Farnek’s roadmap to achieve Net Zero emissions by 2050.
One of Farnek’s most significant achievements under Markus’ leadership remains the successful bid in 2010 to provide MEP FM services to the world’s tallest building, the Burj Khalifa, which the company still retains today. He has also been responsible for securing FM contracts with Expo City and other leading organisations such as Dubai Airport, Du, and Yas Marina Circuit.