In the world of media and event hosting, few names resonate as strongly as Alex Grecu. From cycling across Romania to promote active living to becoming the voice of major events, Alex's journey has been one of passion, perseverance, and professionalism. As the Master of Ceremonies for the 2024 LUXE Global Awards Gala, Alex brings his unique blend of energy and expertise to the forefront. In this interview, we delve into his career, insights, and aspirations as he prepares to lead one of the most prestigious events in the luxury industry.

CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT YOUR JOURNEY INTO THE WORLD OF MEDIA AND PRESENTING? WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO PURSUE THIS CAREER PATH?

It all started 10 years ago when I took part in a great project called "Active Romania." I cycled 2,500 km through Romania in 30 days to promote a healthy and active lifestyle. During this experience, we had media coverage, and I felt a strong connection with the microphone and with the audiences in the cities we visited. It was a kind of revelation for me, I realized that I wanted to become a presenter.

Right after this project, I started to actively work towards my goal of becoming a presenter, and everything fell into place unexpectedly quickly. So yes, I think it was meant to be. I immediately started working also as a voiceover artist, and five years after pursuing my dream job, I began presenting at one of the most important radio stations in Romania with national coverage, Europa FM.

Now I can say that my feeling was right! I simply love speaking at the microphone, connecting with people and all my experiences - events, voiceover and radio - help me build a truly complete presentation.

YOU'VE HOSTED A WIDE RANGE OF EVENTS, FROM CORPORATE CONFERENCES TO SPORTS EVENTS. WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR FAVORITE TYPE OF EVENT TO HOST AND WHY?

I really can’t say that I have a favorite type of event because what I love about my hosting experience is the variety of events and the fact that I can apply the experience from one to another. This gives me a valuable perspective, as I have experience with a wide variety of audience types, allowing me to adjust my speech to suit each one as well as possible.

AS THE MASTER OF CEREMONIES FOR THE 2024 LUXE GLOBAL AWARDS GALA, WHAT ARE YOU MOST LOOKING FORWARD TO?

The well-being of the event is my top priority! From my perspective, my role and responsibility as a Master of Ceremonies is to manage all moments, whether we encounter problems or not, and to provide the audience with a smooth and pleasant experience. I take my role very seriously because the presenter is the face of the event. No matter what kind of issue may arise, the person on stage must take responsibility and be able to handle any situation successfully.

CAN YOU SHARE A MEMORABLE MOMENT FROM YOUR CAREER AS A PRESENTER OR MC THAT HAS STAYED WITH YOU?

I think one of the most memorable moments for me was during the pandemic period, when events were being streamed online and the guests were connected via video calls. Picture this: I was presenting an event about agricultural funds for one of the biggest banks in Romania, live from a studio. We had a panel with three guests and a moderator for the discussion, who was an employee of the bank, all connected remotely. However, our moderator was having difficulties with his microphone, we were live, so I couldn't continue with the planned flow without him.

To keep the event going without any awkward pauses or interruptions, I started interviewing the guests without any information from the organizer about the topic of discussion or any real knowledge about agriculture. Don’t ask me if the questions were relevant or not, but the event carried on very naturally, with no awkward gaps, and after 15-20 minutes, the moderator finally connected.

In the end, the event was a complete success, and for me, it was one of the most important learning experiences of my career.

YOU OFTEN PROMOTE AN ACTIVE AND HEALTHY LIFESTYLE. HOW DO YOU BALANCE YOUR PROFESSIONAL COMMITMENTS WITH YOUR PASSION FOR SPORTS AND FITNESS?

My sports activity is my main source of energy for all my projects. The primary benefit, from my point of view, is that an active lifestyle gives us a healthy mindset! My training sessions are the moments where I cultivate my ambition, discipline, determination and patience, or where I burn off negative energy.

So, I would say that one of the key ingredients of my professional success is the confidence I gain from my sports activity.

WHAT ROLE DOES SPONTANEITY PLAY IN YOUR PRESENTATIONS, AND HOW DO YOU PREPARE FOR UNEXPECTED SITUATIONS DURING LIVE EVENTS?

I treat every event as a living organism because it is never the same and constantly develops in different directions. This is why it’s essential to keep an open mind, avoid being rigid, and remain spontaneous, playful and positive. Paying attention to all the details discussed by the guests on the stage or the audience, will always be a source of inspiration and a good foundation for making relevant comments.

When it comes to unexpected situations, after the pandemic experience, I try to learn as much as possible about the event's topic so that I feel comfortable with the subject. Otherwise, at this point, I feel that the experience I’ve gained over the years, along with my professional background, helps me manage any situation with ease.

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO ASPIRING PRESENTERS AND HOSTS WHO WANT TO BREAK INTO THE INDUSTRY?

Be patient! Study diction and public speaking! Always evaluate your performance after every event! These ideas were part of my strategy for reaching this point in my career. I never aimed to be "the best presenter", I don’t believe in that concept in our field, but I always strive to be the best version of myself and to keep improving.

LOOKING AHEAD, WHAT ARE YOUR FUTURE GOALS AND ASPIRATIONS, BOTH PROFESSIONALLY AND PERSONALLY?

Professionally, my goal is to present international events outside of Romania. At this point, I have started working on a strategy to take all my experience to the next level.

Personally, I love my passions for sports, motorcycling, and fast cars, but my main wish is to find as much time as possible for my son, Tudor. I love being a father, it’s the best feeling in the world for me and I’ve realized that being a father has given me the greatest fulfillment of my life. So yes, personally, my goal is to make every second count for my family.

With a decade of experience under his belt and a deep passion for connecting with audiences, Alex Grecu is a presenter who truly embodies the art of hosting. As he takes the stage at the 2024 LUXE Global Awards Gala, we can expect nothing short of excellence. His commitment to his craft, coupled with his love for family and fitness, continues to propel him toward new heights in his career. We look forward to seeing what the future holds for this dynamic and inspiring individual.