(L to R) Ken Brookes, Managing
Director of the Niedax Thailand, Ltd., Frank Holzer, Director, ASEAN
Manufacturing Finance of GM Thailand, and Marcus Magiar, General Manager of the
Carl Zeiss Co., Ltd.
Dr. Iain Corness
The local Chambers of Commerce have understood the value of grouping themselves
together as opposed to duplicating events, as a cost-saving exercise. This
month, the venue was the Centara Grand Mirage Resort, with returnee General
Manager Andre Brulhart ready to welcome the chamber members. Andre had business
cards at the ready, and it turned out that his secretary had saved some from his
previous stint as the GM. Now that’s a good PA.
The main sponsors of the night
pose for a group photo. (L to R) Andre Brulhart, General Manager of the Centara
Grand Mirage Beach Resort Pattaya, Greg Watkins, Executive Director of the BCCT,
Phongsakdi Chakshuvej, President of the GTCC, Judy Benn, Executive Director of
the AmCham, Graham Macdonald, President of the SATCC, Simon Landy, Executive
Chairman of Colliers International, and Jorg Buck, Executive Director of the
GTCC.
The principal chamber was the German Thai Chamber of
Commerce, picking up the tab for the American Chamber (AmCham), the British
Chamber of Commerce Thailand (BCCT), the Australian Chamber of Commerce Thailand
(AustCham) and the South African chamber (SATCC). GTCC President Phongsakdi
Chakshuvej welcomed everyone, while displaying a copy of the football world cup
(they’re not going to let us forget it for the next four years!).
The mood was definitely buoyant amongst the chambers with everyone feeling as
though Thailand is turning a corner for the better.
(L to R) Phongsakdi Chakshuvej,
President of the GTCC, Jan Lembas, Director of the Czech Trade, Bangkok, Marcus
Magiar, General Manager of the Carl Zeiss Co., Ltd. and Markus Wehrhahn,
Managing Director of RLC Recruitment Co., Ltd.
Many of the regulars were present, including a sizeable
number from Bangkok, including Judy Benn (AmCham) and David Nardone (Hemaraj),
the BCCT’s Mark Butters (RSM) and Executive Director Greg Watkins and Mark (try
my pad Thai fagash) Bowling (Colliers).
As well as the chambers, the other resort teams were extolling their advantages
and having a sly look at how the Centara Grand Mirage was handling the
onslaught, with Chananchida Wongso-ard, sales manager from the Holiday Inn,
impressing Automotive Focus Group (AFG) committee member Armin Walter so much he
would have agreed to anything (and probably did).
(L to R) Greg Watkins, Executive
Director of the BCCT, Mark Bowling, Associate Director, Sales & Leasing of
C.I.T. Property Consultants Co., Ltd, Terrence Allen Collins, Managing Director
of the BravoThai Lifestyle Co., Ltd. and Adrian Stamkiog.
John Manley, EAM of the Hard Rock Hotel Pattaya, was there,
having defected from the Marriott, while the Marriott’s Director of Operations
Matt Fryar was perfectly content with all indicators pointing towards up.
Other networkers included Roland Sensch (EuropAsia), Frank Holzer (President
AFG) and Graham MacDonald spearheading the SATCC.
One happy attendee was Rosanne Diamente who is raising funds for her Women With
a Mission charity, which is providing food and education for children in Mae
Sot.
The only person missing from the Zulu bar was Indiana Jones, but I’m sure Andre
Brulhart will fix that next time!
(L to R) Jorg Machill, Manager of
the German Ambulance & T.T. Co., Ltd., Waldamar Lutz, Aftermarket Service
Manager Service & Repairs of NEAC Compressor Service Ltd. and Sandra Quinn.
(L to R) Mark Butters, Director,
RSM Advisory Thailand Ltd., Colin Grant, Executive Chef of the Centara Grand
Mirage Beach Resort and Paul Strachan, PMTV Productions Manager.
(L to R) Ron Grigaras, Engineering
and Program Manager of MHG Thailand Co., Ltd., Nathan Tan, Business Development
Manager of G4S Secure Solutions Thailand Limited, and Chawachai
Thammarattanaporn, Sales Manager of G4S Secure Solutions Thailand Limited.
Rob Scarr, Business Development
Manager of the Securitas Thailand Co., Ltd., and Geoffrey Partrat, Asia Pacific
Sales Director of Konitz Asia Ltd.
Bob Graviano, Senior Director of
Celestica, and Barry Crawford, Supply Chain Director of Triumph Aviation
Services Asia Ltd.
Tony Dobbie, IT Director of
Autospecs Y.K. and Keith Wilson, Managing Director of Beautiful Villa.
Elfi Seitz (R) interviews Jorg
Buck (L), Executive Director of the GTCC.
Dr. Iain Corness and Chris
Thatcher, Vice Chairman of the BCCT.
Jock (L) and Doc (R) interview
Roseanne Diamente from WWM.
Roland Schellenberger, Managing
Director of the Thai-German Supplies Co., Ltd., and Michael Damm, Managing
Director of the D3 Consulting Co., Ltd.
