Our Team

The Organization is composed of life-long chess players as well as newer yet equally passionate fans who believe in the positive attributes of chess and want to further share these with the world.
Management
The Organization is composed of life-long chess players as well as newer yet equally passionate fans who believe in the positive attributes of chess and want to further share these with the world.

Chief Executive Officer
Andreas Thome
Prior to joining Play Magnus, Andreas Thome was the COO of Opera Software ASA, where he served for 10 years on the management team. Andreas has broad expertise in business development, commercial strategy, and management from 15 years of experience in IT, Software and Telecom. Andreas holds an MSc in Finance & Investment from York University and an MSc in Economics from the University of Oslo.

Chief Financial Officer
Dmitri Shneider
Dmitri Shneider joined Chessable as the company's COO in 2019 and became CFO of the Play Magnus Group in 2020. Prior to Chessable, Dmitri Shneider was a senior equity strategist at JPMorgan in New York and Hong Kong for 11 years, where he last held the title of Executive Director. Mr. Shneider holds a BSc in Finance with a minor in Economics from the University of Texas, Dallas. He is a CFA charterholder and an International Chess Master.

Chief Technology Officer
David Kramaley
David Kramaley founded Chessable in 2015 and joined the Play Magnus Group in 2019. He has since become CTO of the Play Magnus Group and oversees all development of the Group’s platforms. His background is in video game development as the founder of Sharkius Games. David holds a BSc in Computer Science from Queen’s College, City University of New York, a PGCert in Applied Psychology from the University of Liverpool and MSc in the Psychology of Education from the University of Bristol.

Chief Business Development Officer
Sebastian Kuhnert
Sebastian J. Kuhnert is the Chief Business Development Officer of Play Magnus AS and joined the Play Magnus Group as CEO of chess24. Prior to Play Magnus, Mr. Kuhnert has held various positions with international companies such as Tradimo Interactive and PokerStrategy.com. Mr.Kuhnert holds an MSc in General Management from WHU - Otto Beisheim School of Management.

Chief Strategy Officer
Arkus Fredriksson
Arkus Fredriksson has worked with Play Magnus since 2016 on strategic and corporate development initiatives, including the formation of the Play Magnus Group through the consolidation with chess24 and acquisition of Chessable. His background is in Investment Banking with Lazard in London. Arkus completed his undergraduate studies in management and computer science at University College London and Columbia University.
Board of Directors
The Play Magnus Group is led by a strong group of board members holding substantial experience from a variety of backgrounds from entertainment and media to entrepreneurship and finance.

Chairman of the Board
Anders Brandt

Deputy Chairman of the Board
Enrique Guzman

Board Member
Henrik Carlsen

Board Member
Patrick Sandahl

Board Member
Stanley Buchthal

Board Member
Charles Stonehill

Board Member
Björn Schwabe

Board Member
Marco Pasetti

Alternate Board Member
Erik Wold

Alternate Board Member
Nils Lensch-Franzen

Board Observer
Erik Anderson

Board Observer
Espen Agdestein