The latest in the British Chamber of Commerce Thailand
(BCCT) networking evenings was held at the Art Cafe in Naklua, with host
Jo Stetten on hand to ensure that everyone was well fed, watered, wined
and victualled. There was no doubt that between the Art Cafe and Thai
Leighton (the other sponsor of the evening, represented by Steven
Despotidis), all the members and guests were very well fed, watered, wined
and victualled!
Dr
Iain Corness (right) interviews Hans Dieter Westphal, ReTech Energy MD,
for Pattaya Mail on TV.
The executive director of the BCCT, Greg Watkins,
appeared to be everywhere, popping up with his BCCT camera to
‘officially’ record the event (and get a few faces to place with
names). As always, the biggest problem with these very popular evenings is
that you end up with a pocket full of business cards, and have to try the
next day to remember who was who!
One group that has understood the value of these
evening opportunities is AA Insurances, with principals Peter Smith and
Malcolm Scorer aided by new manager Dew and Assistant “Wine” on hand
to show their hand. Between them, they probably ended up with the largest
haul of business cards, but each one represents a business lead, which in
turn can mean company revenue. AA Insurances are certainly impressing many
people with their progressive business plans and strategies.
With all the forthcoming restrictions on energy use,
Hans Dieter Westphal from ReTech Energy was present, complete with
brochures and his lovely offsider, Supavadee Phothikamol, to show astute
business principals how to apply cost (and energy) saving principles to
their businesses. Hans was seen in deep conversation with John Hamilton of
Waste Management Siam, mutual synergy as part of Hans’ energy saving is
extracting energy from waste, of which John Hamilton’s company is one of
the main collectors on the Eastern Seaboard.
With so many movers and shakers in the BCCT, it was not
surprising that the people whose business is moving were on hand, with
Crown Relocations Corporate Account Managers Benchawan Promchan and
Pichitra Niphondkit ready to advise on relocating.
Katoen Natie was well represented by Alain Durwarder
and Jimmy Howard, both showing the diverse nature of the Katoen Natie
business (and personnel), while there were also personnel such as Craig
Donnelly currently “between” employers, looking for the right one to
snare his talents.
Of course, many of the ‘old hands’ were also
present, with Peter Stirling of Milan Crosse Partners, Ian Dickson of
Bluescope Steel and Peter Mewes from Johnson Stokes and Master all
enjoying the company (and a few cold ones).
With Graham Macdonald from MBMG International being the Eastern
Seaboard’s representative on the BCCT board, we can look forward to even
more of these very important (and pleasurable) evenings in the future. The
next event will be mentioned in the Pattaya Mail, closer to the
date.
(L to
R) Edwards Strauss, director of Grant Thorton; Julian Pratt, director of
Spheric-Trafalgar; Greg Watkins, executive director of the BCCT; and Alain
Durwarder, MD of Katoen Natie (Thailand).
(L to
R) Steven Thorton and Russell White from Thai Leighton and Cameron
Stirling from Milan Crosse Partners.
(L to
R) John Pollard, MD Meinhardt (Thailand); Peter Mewes from Johnson Stokes
and Master, and Dr Iain Corness from the Pattaya Mail.
(L to
R) Paul Wilkinson, Eastern Seaboard GM for Four Winds International
Moving; John Hamilton, GM of Waste Management Siam, and Andy Nightingale
from St Andrews.
(L to
R) Mark Butters, director of RSM Nelson Wheeler; John Botting, MD of
Pattaya Property Consultants, and Natthakan Wetphitak from Thai Property
& Media Exhibitions.
(L to
R) Alain Durwarder, MD Katoen Natie, Jenny Howard, and Stefaan De Vos,
Bayer Material Science Maptaput plant site manager.
(L to
R) Steven Thorton, Thai Leighton; Cameron Stirling, account manager and
creative director of Milan Crosse Partners; and Russell White, Thai
Leighton Eastern Seaboard business development manager.
(L to
R) Rujapha Pratoondang, Rachada Jintranan and Jitra Wongjuan from
Insurance Brokerage Co., Ltd.
(L to
R) Greg Watkins, executive director of the BCCT; Graham Macdonald director
of MBMG International; Rob Collins from the BCCT; John Pollard, MD
Meinhardt (Thailand), and Peter Stirling, managing partner of Milan Crosse
Partners.
(L to
R) Pattaya Mail MD Peter Malhotra, Supavadee Phothikamol, project
coordinating manager of ReTech Energy; Hans Dieter Westphal, MD of ReTech
Energy; and Edward Strauss, director of Grant Thorton.
Panga
Vathanakul presents HE Luis Alberto Sepulveda with a souvenir.
Chris
Kridakorn-Odbratt (2nd right) was the winner of the wine quiz.
