Felix Erken

Having worked in marketplaces for the last 32 years in South Africa, Felix has witnessed the complete transformation of marketplaces – from traditional print classifieds to the sophisticated, technology-driven digital platforms we live and work with today. I’ve had the privilege of being part of the DMA family for 27 years, and at one point, they even put me on the committee (no, that’s not a typo), where I served for two years. Through DMA, I have come to see, listen, share, and, above all, learn so many amazing things about marketplaces – and about life, people, countries, cities, cultures, businesses big and small, and even the joy of living and love! What a ride it’s been. I’ve seen it all, but the more I see and learn, the more I realize how much more there is to learn. The marketplace industry is evolving faster than ever, bringing both new challenges and new opportunities to this dynamic world. They say you can’t teach an old dog new tricks, but I say, “I don’t know about that – I’m not a dog.” I’m learning every day!