…. Speaking to the guests. To his left are Philippe Boison, Nicholas Brown and at the far left BV’s London office manager Yanni Kalogeras.
Off to Trinity House, the 500 plus year old iconic maritime building, interwoven with British Maritime History and Tradition, in the heart of the Square Mile, for yet another unique Beaujolais evening honouring French wine tradition. Over 300 guests including thirty journalists, despite the rain and other events taking place at the same time, honoured Bureau Veritas annual event early last night; John Faraclas was there with his camera:
Radm (Rt) Thimio E. Mitropoulos, Emeritus Secretary-General of the IMO, Mrs. Chantal Mitropoulos, with Paillette Palaiologou and Lambros Chahalis from Bureau Veritas
Philippe Donche-Gay, the executive vice-president and head of Bureau Veritas’ Marine & Offshore Division and Yannis Calogeras, marine chief executive of Bureau Veritas UK, not only entertained us in style, as they do every single year, but had some interesting announcements; for the markets and BV’s progress, as well as for its human resources: Plain sailing for the markets despite the downwards freight indices, and new blood in the world renown classification society. Remember, last year it was for …“that blonde”…err… Paillette Palaiologou, appointed as Bureau Veritas’ Marine Marketing & Sales Director within the Marine & Offshore Operating Group…
Intrecargo’s Dr. Kostas Gkonis, HCG’s Theofilos Mozas, GSCC’s Maria Sylignaki, BV Piraeus John Kokarakis and GSCC’s managing director Commodore (Rt. HCG) Kostas Amarantidis)
Expanding the services portfolio through acquisitions was more than a good strategic move for Bureau Veritas. The TMC Marine with 50 experts in London, Singapore and Houston speaks of itself; Marine claims and accidents investigations, Salvage and wreck removal consultancy and Marine expert witness service was a perfect, timely and wise deal as was MAC! The Maritime & Assurance Consultancy with 30 employees in Aberdeen and 40 associates; Dynamic positioning assurance, Engineering assurance and Marine & Project Assurance. These two acquisitions in the Marine and offshore field respectively count as double big plus for Bureau Veritas.
Intertanko’s Managing Director Katharina Stanzel with Phillippe Boisson
Moreover he referred with very warm and touching words for two great persons, a friend and a colleague retiring this year; John Guy from (Magic) Merlin Communications and the charismatic, always available with a smile at a second’s notice Phillippe Boisson, for nearly twenty-five years with BV. A very humorous slides …search presentation, a digital search for talent in the US, China and in the UK …ended up in selecting for his position …also greek-speaking (even just a bit but enough to make him understood) Nicholas K. Brown, …more digitally Nick Brown, who brings amongst other things a powerful digital experience, much needed in today’s critical and ultra-competitive maritime world. Nick was the last nine years with Lloyd’s Register, the United Kingdom’s classification society.
John Guy with Phillippe Boisson
Except the many Bureau Veritas executives from the society’s Paris, London, Greek and other offices, all the relevant City of London and UK stakeholders were duly represented at the event. Excellent wine and dips – fantastic cheese this time, and networking in a very jovial mood honouring the Nouveau Beaujolais-Villages from the Chateau de Grandmont. It was a great break, a much needed one, after an intense first day of the Cass Business School 8th Biennial City event at the IMO!
Merci beaucoup!
“Phillippe Boisson”
“Nick Brown”
BV’s Yiannis Calogeras, Tom Rogers and Alline De Bievre
Nick Brown with Peter Cowling from Old Curates House
Helikon’s George J. Margaronis, Maria Sylignaki, Maritime London’s Olga Jaques, Phillippe Boisson, Seatrades’ Bob Jaques and LISCR’s Costas Ladas
A view from the reception at Trinity House
