Early Life
Klaus-Peter Schulenberg was born in Bremen, Germany, in 1951. During his student years, he founded an artist management and event agency. He organized concerts for renowned acts like Alice Cooper and The Rolling Stones in Germany.
Rise to Success
In 1996, Schulenberg acquired the ticketing company CTS, laying the foundation for what would become CTS Eventim. Under his leadership, the company expanded its services to ticketing, live entertainment, and digital solutions. By 2000, CTS Eventim went public, marking a significant milestone in its growth trajectory. Schulenberg's strategic vision involved acquiring regional concert promoters, ticketing agencies, venue operators, and event producers, propelling CTS Eventim to sell over 250 million tickets annually before the coronavirus pandemic.
CTS Eventim experienced a 79% decline in revenues for the first nine months of 2020 compared to the previous year, amounting to $255 million. Despite these setbacks, Schulenberg remained resilient, focusing on innovation and diversification to navigate the crisis.
Key Business Strategies
Schulenberg's approach involved acquiring regional concert promoters, ticketing agencies, venue operators, and event producers. He expanded the company's services, encompassing ticketing, live entertainment, and digital solutions. CTS Eventim has expanded its global footprint and embraced technological advancements, including digital ticketing solutions and mobile platforms. CTS Eventim sold 103.4 million tickets online in 2024, up from 82.9 million the year before. In 2024, CTS Eventim's revenue was $3.04 billion.
Philanthropy
Schulenberg and his life partner, Ulrike Thümmel, are members of the Advisory Council of the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) in Heidelberg.
