Interview with Christian Jaeger: What's behind MSP GLOBAL?

Hosttest had the opportunity to speak with Christian Jaeger, the organiser behind the well-known internet infrastructure conferences CloudFest, NamesCon, and MSP Global. In the interview, he provides us with comprehensive insights into MSP Global 2024, scheduled for October this year, its development, and what visitors can expect at the conference.

Hosttest: Hello Christian, could you please introduce yourself briefly to our readers?

Christian Jaeger: Hi, I'm Christian Jaeger and have been working in the cloud and hosting sector since the beginning of my career. In 2010, I started as a working student at the Cologne hosting company 'intergenia', which also organised the 'Webhostingdays'. I was fortunate that at that time they were also looking for a salesperson for the event. Over the following years, we developed the event into an international brand before I 'switched sides' after around 5 years – first to a major managed hosting provider, and later in the M&A sector for software manufacturers and, of course, hosting companies around the world.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, in 2021, together with the founding team, we had the opportunity to repurchase what was now called 'CloudFest'. We were convinced that once the pandemic ends, people will want to attend business conferences again. Since then, I have had the privilege of organising CloudFest, NamesCon, and our newest flagship event, MSP GLOBAL, as CEO, with a small team of dedicated and talented individuals.

Hosttest: Can you give us an overview of MSP Global and what visitors can expect from this new event?

Christian Jaeger: The MSP GLOBAL has become by far the largest MSP event in continental Europe since its first edition last year at the Nürburgring. We don't just organise trade shows, but an experience that makes it easier for visitors to network and advance their careers. We will have top industry thought leaders on stage, as well as superstars to inspire our guests – last year we had Sanna Marin and Bob Geldof on stage. Of course, there will also be extravagant parties and concerts every evening, a true B2B festival, so to speak. We deliberately chose the Portaventura theme park near Barcelona, whose top-notch conference centre and adjacent resort hotel we have exclusively rented. The professional life of many system houses, MSPs, and hosts is already like a rollercoaster ride. What could be more fitting than an event in a theme park on the beautiful coast of Barcelona?

Hosttest: How does MSP Global differ from Cloudfest? Are there specific themes that MSP Global focuses on and what is the target audience?

Christian Jaeger: Many MSPs or traditional system houses are facing a dilemma. On one hand, they have extremely close and good relationships with their customers. On the other hand, the actual service is under pressure from increasingly complex customer requirements and, of course, cyber risks. The question is whether as an MSP, one wants to continue to be the service provider for 'everything IT', or focus on specific areas. The latter means entering into new partnerships, turning competitors into partners, and restructuring one's team. All of this explains the immense turnout and interest in the MSP GLOBAL event.

Hosttest: How was the feedback from previous events such as the long-standing successful Cloudfest used to shape MSP Global?

Christian Jaeger: I believe the CloudFest visitors rightly expect: Each year must be special, unique. And we see that same level of trust for our new events. It is important to strike a balance between business purpose, a functional trade show, and interesting technical presentations, while also incorporating a certain lightness and fun. That's what sets CloudFest apart, and that's what we will implement at MSP GLOBAL 2024.

Hosttest: What are the challenges in launching a new series of events and what opportunities does it offer for the industry?

Christian Jaeger: First and foremost: We create experiences for people. And we need to gradually get to know them better and understand their specific requirements and issues. An event will only work if we make it relevant to the audience. Simply copying and pasting from CloudFest won't cut it. The challenges for MSPs are different from what we knew from CSPs and hosts. From an event manager's perspective, there are of course many other exciting challenges: Who should come and why? Oh, and of course, where to! The location is the key to sustainable success and the foundation for creating a unique experience at all. Of course, every challenge also comes with an opportunity. We can consciously do things differently than before, try out new things. We believe that MSPs deserve to experience special events and actively shape them together with us, rather than just meeting at some boring conference hotel at the airport for a symposium. We want to provide the platform, but the community is the heart that brings our events to life.

Hosttest: In a time when digital technologies are becoming increasingly important and virtual meetings are becoming the norm, how do you see the future of large on-site events like Cloudfest and MSP Global? What strategies are being pursued to keep these events relevant and attractive?

Christian Jaeger: I must admit, I was somewhat surprised by how many tasks, meetings, and gatherings we were able to shift to remote work during the pandemic, and I too enjoy being able to be at home with my family almost immediately after work. However, the years of certain isolation have taught us one thing: It's not possible without personal interaction. And I can never reach a goal as quickly in a virtual meeting as in a face-to-face meeting – whether it's finding a solution to a problem, initiating a sales process, or getting feedback from a customer. The vast majority of people, including myself, are rather shy. So, we need to make it easy for people to start a conversation – and as strange as it may sound: the barrier to starting a conversation with a stranger, even if it benefits me professionally, is much higher virtually. Nevertheless, events are currently in competition for the time a decision-maker is willing to spend with us. As an organiser, I must therefore ensure that the event is marked as a big red marker in the calendar. The right speakers, interesting and diverse exhibitors, active visitors on-site. These are our tasks, and unlike my school days, we really spend 120% of our time solving them and putting on a unique, valuable event. Every year, for every target audience.

Hosttest: Christian, thank you for the interview. I am looking forward to strolling with you at MSP Global in October.

The interview was conducted by Marco Keul with Christian Jaeger on 25th July 2024

Further information:

MSP Global Website https://mspglobal.com/
CloudFest Website https://www.cloudfest.com/
NamesCon Website https://namescon.com/

Photos: Christian Jaeger