Which one is the slow
drinker? (l-r) Clive Butcher (Transearch), Joe Barker-Bennett (MD JMBB
Consulting Co. Ltd.), or Simon Matthews (Country Manager Thailand
Manpower Group).
Dr. Iain Corness
The British Chamber of Commerce Thailand (BCCT) held
its latest networking evening at Shenanigans Jomtien, at the end of the
special Paris-Dakar stage from Thappraya Road. The road surface is
unbelievable and the pot holes so deep there is Venezuelan music coming
out of them. Hopefully none of the members fell in.
Graham Macdonald
(chairman of the BCCT) and Roger Wilson (GKN Driveline) find a quiet
corner to nibble on the delicious ribs.
Those who made it to Stewart Fraser’s Shenanigans
Jomtien pub were rewarded with some rather tasty ‘finger food’, which
the staff presented with plates and cutlery! Having been left trying
unsuccessfully to balance a beer in one hand and a slice of pizza in the
other, at some previous locations, this was wonderfully civilized! Thank
you! Thank you!
Someone needs cheering up.
(l-r) Peter Smith (AA Insurance Brokers Co. Ltd.), Barry Main (Sausage
King) and Greg Watkins (Executive Director of BCCT).
There were many sponsors of the evening, with
Chairman Graham Macdonald (also sponsoring through MBMG) welcoming the
guests, along with Executive Director Greg Watkins. Other sponsors were
John Hamilton (Waste Management Siam), Cees Cuijpers (Town and Country
Property), Peter Smith (AA Insurance Brokers), Kerry Matisin (Allied
Pickfords) and Stewart Fraser (Shenanigans).
Not enough room at the
bar. (l-r) Dr. Ulrich Stork (Compressor Sales & Service), John Hamilton
(Waste Management Siam), Okko Sprey (Plus Exploration Co. Ltd) and
Gerhard Hein (Compressor Sales & Services).
During the interviews with these sponsors it was
interesting to note that they were all quite up-beat, but stating that
business has changed and it becomes necessary for the companies to
change with it. Cees Cuijpers noting that there is an influx of Bangkok
people and that the condominium market is very strong. Peter Smith spoke
on changes within the insurance industry, including a new product from
Europe offering cover without a medical - but he did say that honesty
was necessary before any claims were made. He also noted that more Thais
were realizing the advantages of insurance, and not just waiting for the
next life for things to be better. There had also been a down-scaling of
insurance portfolios with many companies looking for cheaper plans until
the economy really picked up.
Luke Cook (Carter
International) and Craig Muldoon (PFS International) at their coolest
self.
Other regulars included Simon Matthews (Manpower
Services and Dept of Awful Shirts), Joe Cox (without the dogs), Nam
Smith (“insuring” that Peter was well behaved), Chris Thatcher (Sutlet
Group), Shane van Vlerken (Bangkok Video productions, but now in
Pattaya), Paul Wilkinson (Operations Manager of Kevin Fisher’s dynamic
CEA Projects ([email protected]), and Bruce Hoppe (Emerson
Technologies) but Judy was in the USA.
Thumbs up for the BCCT
networking events, (l-r) Alan S. Verstein, Boonyarat Main, Naree
Peehtakua and Marc Spiegel (President Thai-Finnish Chamber of Commerce).
There were also many welcome newcomers, including the
wonderfully polished Artitaya Kaewmark (Royal Cliff Hotels Group), and
some infrequent visitors such as Som Corness and Peter (the publishing
guru) Malhotra.
Three beautiful girls
added glamour to the event. (l-r) Naree Peehtakua (Vistas Development),
Chalanda (Hosting Group) and Kanyarat Wedphitak (CEO Carter Jewelry).
This was a most successful event for the BCCT members
and the date and venue of the next BCCT networking event will be
published in the Pattaya Mail.
Anyone for insurance? AA
Insurance girls lined up in a row. (l-r) Moo, Nam, Nui, Da, and Took.
(l-r) Louis J. and Annda
(4A Properties) are well protected by Joe Cox (Defence International
Security Services).
Somsri Jomtarak and Kerry
Matisin (Allied Pickfords) with Joe Barker-Bennett (JMBB Consulting Co.
Ltd.).
Cees Cuijpers (Town at
Country Property) gets cosy with Sasitorn and Bjorn Hellesylt (MD
Hosting-Group Co. Ltd.).
Far from the madding
crowd: (l-r) Peter Malhotra (Pattaya Mail), Bruce Hoppe (VP Asia
Operations Emerson Electric), Dr. Iain and Som Corness.
