Tag: PER

Economy

ACE Life Appoints Jeffrey Woo as Hong Kong’s New Chief Agency Officer

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HONG KONG, July 28, 2014 /PRNewswire/ — ACE Life, the global life insurance division of ACE Group, today announced the appointment of Jeffrey Woo as its new Chief Agency Officer, as well as a member of the Executive Committee, in Hong Kong. Mr. Woo will be responsible for all aspects of agency management to bring the team to a new height. He will report to Allan Lam, Country President of ACE Life in Hong Kong.

Mr Jeffrey Woo is appointed as new Chief Agency Officer of ACE Life
Mr Jeffrey Woo is appointed as new Chief Agency Officer of ACE Life

“I’m very pleased to have Jeffrey on board as his previous experience in agency management will prove invaluable to the personalized customer care provided by ACE Life,” said Allan Lam, Country President of ACE Life in Hong Kong. “Agency is our core distribution channel which we will continue to grow and develop. I am confident that Jeffrey will lead our agency teams to the next level of professionalism and productivity as well as to deliver better services to our customers.”

Mr. Woo has a wealth of insurance and management experience, with his most recent role being Deputy Regional Chief Agency Officer of an international insurer. He has a proven track record of success in agency management, especially in respect to agency growth strategies and initiatives. Formerly, Mr. Woo was the Director of a global professional services company, specializing in advising various insurance companies on their agency growth initiatives; he had also worked at several leading global life insurers.

Media Contact:

Bonny Ching
+852-2837-7095
bonny.ching@acegroup.com

Photo – http://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20140728/8521404250

Aviation

Nissan Announces Management Change in the Philippines

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MANILA, Philippines, July 25, 2014 /PRNewswire/ — Nissan today announced the appointment of Antonio Zara, currently Managing Director, International Sales of General Motors Korea, as President and Managing Director of Nissan Philippines, Inc. (NPI), effective August 1, 2014.*

Zara, a Filipino national, brings extensive automotive experience in sales, service, and marketing to NPI, spanning multiple markets across Asia, including Korea, Thailand, Japan, Indonesia, and the Philippines.

With this management change, Kenji Naito, current President and Managing Director of NPI, will be appointed Senior Vice President, Strategic Planning and Business Management, Nissan Motor Asia Pacific Co., Ltd. (NMAP) in Bangkok, also effective August 1.

Naito was appointed to his current role in December 2013. Under his leadership, NPI was established as a new joint-venture company with long time partners Universal Motors Corporation (UMC) and Nissan Motor Philippines, Inc. (NMPI).  He also successfully led the launch of two global sedans in the Philippines — the all-new Altima and the all-new Sylphy.

“I am happy to welcome Antonio as the new President and Managing Director of NPI,” said Toru Hasegawa, Corporate Vice President, Asia and Oceania Business, Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. and concurrently President, Nissan Motor Asia Pacific Co., Ltd. (NMAP). “This is an exciting time for us in the Philippines and I am very happy to have such a seasoned executive join us to grow the business in this dynamic market.” Hasegawa continued: “At the same time, I would like to thank Naito for his valuable contribution in establishing the foundation of growth in the Philippines. I look forward to him bringing his vast experience running national sales companies to NMAP and enhancing the Nissan brand across the entire region.”

*Zara’s official inauguration will be after the Board of Directors Meeting in August.

General WRK

MHI Global Names Greg Moore as Managing Director for Asia

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SINGAPORE, July 23, 2014 /PRNewswire/ —  MHI Global, the world’s largest dedicated sales-performance company formed by the merger of Miller Heiman, AchieveGlobal, Huthwaite, Impact Learning Systems and Channel Enablers, today announced the appointment of Greg Moore to the role of managing director for Asia. Based in Singapore, Moore will lead business integration across the five powerhouse brands in Asia and drive MHI Global’s regional go-to-market strategies for accelerated growth. Moore will report directly to Sam Reese, CEO of MHI Global.

Moore was most recently managing director of Huthwaite Asia, where he led the company’s growth and operational performance throughout the region. Prior to this, Moore spent more than 10 years at Huthwaite’s headquarters in Washington, D.C., U.S., as director of Global Accounts, where he was responsible for overseeing the company’s global financial services and professional services clients.

With more than two decades of sales management consulting experience with the world’s leading organisations, Moore’s immediate remit for MHI Global is to spearhead integration efforts to form one formidable entity that aims to be the undisputed resource for sales leaders and customer-focused organisations across Asia. MHI Global has a direct presence throughout Asia, spanning Southeast Asia, India, Greater China, Korea and Japan, with its regional headquarters in Singapore.

“Our sales-performance and customer-engagement expertise is deeply rooted in research, which is backed by the MHI Research Institute. This allows us to provide proven methodologies and measurable results to help our customers make strategic decisions and gain competitive advantage quickly,” said Greg Moore, managing director for Asia, MHI Global. “Organisations in Asia can benefit from our centres of excellence by putting in place a formal set of customer engagement strategies and best practices for their brand so as to enable them to align customer experiences with business impact and address challenges across a socially diverse and connected region.”

As the largest dedicated sales-performance company in the world, MHI Global provides all of the key components of a multidimensional and interdependent sales system, based on the central belief that everything starts with the customer. The company’s tagline and promise to empower growth signify its goal to help sales leaders optimise their time, effort and potential to better create and manage customer relationships while achieving business goals.

Economy

GreySpark Partners Announces Appointment of Stephane Lannoy as Managing Consultant to Lead its APAC Pre-Trade Risk Control Practice

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HONG KONG, July 23, 2014 /PRNewswire/ — GreySpark Partners, an international capital markets consulting firm, today announced the appointment of Stephane Lannoy as Managing Consultant, where he will lead the firm’s Pre-Trade Risk Control practice in Hong Kong.

Lannoy brings to GreySpark over 20 years’ experience in senior technology roles at exchanges, brokerages and trading and software providers in Europe, the US and Asia. As a former chief information officer at Fimat/Newedge Lannoy contributed to the development of the firm’s global FCM business. He then served as Asia managing director at RTS Realtime Systems. Prior to joining GreySpark Lannoy was executive director of operations and technology at the Hong Kong Mercantile Exchange.

As a Managing Consultant based in GreySpark’s Hong Kong office, Lannoy will focus on expanding the firm’s Pre-Trade Risk Control practice. This involves working with banks and securities firms in the Asia Pacific region to assess existing controls applied to electronic trading execution systems against best practice and to advise them on, and where necessary implement, control improvements.

Stephane Lannoy commented, “The rise and increasing complexity of electronic trading systems has increased the potential for a significant market impact from a breakdown in execution flow whether it be from a machine or ‘fat finger’ induced flash crash to exchange outages caused by structural events. GreySpark is already a leader in consultancy services in etrading and risk within capital markets. The Pre-Trade Risk Control practice at GreySpark leverages that expertise to enable clients to benchmark their Pre-Trade Risk controls and strengthen them to reduce the risk of these kind of failures in the future.”  

Andrew McLauchlan, Managing Director, GreySpark Partners, Asia Pacific added, “Clients are demanding more and more from their electronic trading systems such as access to a wider range of dark pools, low and ultra-low latency market access and sophisticated algorithms. At the same time there are increasing risk and compliance controls due to higher regulatory requirements. Stephane’s extensive experience bolsters our existing capability in this area and enables us to work closely with clients to assess their needs and where needed implement appropriate solutions.” 

Press Contact

Tim Williamson
Cognito Asia-Pacific
+65-6818-9024
greyspark@cognitomedia.com

Economy

China Renaissance Appoints Yang Diao as Co-head of Investment Banking

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HONG KONG, July 22, 2014 /PRNewswire/ — China Renaissance Securities (Hong Kong) Limited (“China Renaissance”) today announced a senior executive hire and the creation of co-heads of Investment Banking as it bolsters its executive team in line with the growth in its business.

The firm has hired Yang Diao as Co-head of Investment Banking to lead China Renaissance’s investment banking team alongside Jason Lam, who joined last year to oversee its Equities Capital Markets division. Together, Mr. Diao and Mr. Lam will be responsible for driving the strategic direction of China Renaissance’s investment banking business. Both men will report to Fan Bao, Chairman and CEO of China Renaissance.

Mr. Diao, who will be based in Hong Kong, joins China Renaissance after ten years at J.P. Morgan. He possesses extensive global and China experience and has a considerable track record advising China’s leading TMT and financial industry players on major transactions in Hong Kong, China and the United States.

Fan Bao, Chairman and CEO of China Renaissance, commented, “We are building a deep bench of top investment banking talent as we look for leaders to manage the growth in our business. The addition of Yang, another longtime dealmaker from a global investment bank, shows how our successful entrepreneurial business model is attracting top industry talent.”

China Renaissance has expanded rapidly from an advisory firm to a full-service investment bank within ten years, based on its commitment to serving China’s “new economy entrepreneurs,” those using Internet-based and information technology to build new business models. It has brought on board a robust team of local and international investment bankers.

Mr. Diao brings to his role strong insight into China’s TMT and consumer industries, built from 15 years of experience in global capital markets and M&A transactions. He was with J.P. Morgan since 2004 and served as Co-Head of China Corporate Finance from 2009 to 2011, responsible for all capital markets transaction execution activities for Chinese clients. Mr. Diao was promoted to Managing Director at the beginning of 2011, and beginning in 2012 led J.P. Morgan’s investment banking coverage for TMT clients in China. He started his investment banking career in New York with Credit Suisse First Boston in 1997. He received his MBA degree from Columbia Business School in 2001.

Mr. Diao will formally join the company in mid-October 2014.

Health Care

Joint Commission International Appoints New Asia-Pacific Managing Director

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OAK BROOK, Ill., July 22, 2014 /PRNewswire/ — Joint Commission International (JCI) has appointed new leadership in the Asia-Pacific region. Prabhu Vinayagam, M.B.B.S., assumes the role of managing director of JCI’s Asia-Pacific Office, located in Singapore, effective 3 July 2014. 

Logo – http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130429/DC02732LOGO

“Dr. Vinayagam brings clinical experience as a physician and surgeon, strategic business acumen, and a wealth of knowledge of the Asia-Pacific region to his new role,” says Paula Wilson, president and CEO, JCI and Joint Commission Resources. “Asia-Pacific is a key region for JCI as we strive to help our clients reduce risk and improve health care outcomes. We are delighted to have Dr. Vinayagam leading our Asia-Pacific initiatives, where he will be supported by a top-notch team of employees who are all passionate about health care improvement.”

Vinayagam is responsible for regional and country-level strategy and business development for JCI’s advisory services, accreditation and education units in the Asia-Pacific region. He will focus on developing and strengthening strategic relations with international organizations, ministries of health, and leading academic medical centers and hospitals. Vinayagam will be attending Hospital Management Asia 2014, August 28-29, in Cebu City, Philippines, and will be available to meet with representatives of JCI accredited organizations during the conference.

Most recently, Vinayagam was director of Pharmacy Solutions and Clinical Strategy, Central and South Asia Pacific Region, at BD Medical. Previously, he was a surgeon and filled other key roles at Safdarjung Hospital, G.B. Pant Hospital and L.N.J.P.N Hospital, all in New Delhi. He is currently president of the Infusion Nurses Society-India, an organization he was instrumental in establishing to develop and disseminate infusion standards and guidelines in India.

Vinayagam received his MBBS from Maulana Azad Medical College, Delhi University, India.

Joint Commission International (JCI) was established in 1994 as a division of Joint Commission Resources, Inc. (JCR), a wholly controlled, not-for-profit affiliate of The Joint Commission. Through international accreditation, advisory services, publications and education programs, JCI extends The Joint Commission’s mission worldwide by helping improve the quality of patient care. JCI assists international health care organizations, public health agencies, health ministries and others in more than 100 countries.

Media Contact:
Elizabeth Eaken Zhani
Media Relations Manager
+1-630-792-5914
ezhani@jointcommission.org

Economy HTS

Monument Capital Group Holdings Appoints World Class Team of Science and Data Experts to Advise on Security and Technology Acquisitions

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WASHINGTON, July 22, 2014 /PRNewswire/ — Leading figures in the world of cryptology and data security have joined the expert team at global security industry investment firm Monument Capital Group Holdings (MCGH).

MCGH is an international private investment firm focused on investments in non-lethal products and services in the global and national security sectors. MCGH specifically targets leading-edge technology companies.

Michael Leiter is Head of Global Government & Cyber Operations and Senior Counselor to the CEO of Palantir Technologies. From 2007 to 2011 he was Director of the United States National Counterterrorism Centre. Mr Leiter has joined MCGH as a Senior Advisor. He will work the MCGH team to provide analysis of the changing global cyber security space and help to inform the firms’ target market and acquisition strategy.

Professor Silvio Micali is a world-renowned cryptologist at the Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Lab at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and a Turing Award Laureate. Professor Alex Pentland is Director of Human Dynamics at MIT Media Lab. He is considered a world-leading expert on data. Both have joined MCGH as scientific advisors.

Chairman and Managing Partner of Monument Capital Group Holdings Joel Andre Ornstein said:

“We are developing a team of world class experts who have an unrivalled understanding of the pioneering development and application of technology within the fast moving security and data industries. We are one of only a handful of private equity firms focusing exclusively on the global security market and these appointments give us the insight and edge needed to deliver high growth returns.“

Spending on technology and services in the global and national security sectors currently exceeds more than $1.3 trillion globally and is expected to continue to grow in excess of 7% per annum.

The need for off-the-shelf innovative technologies means that middle-market R&D driven companies, pioneering technological innovation, are able to access this high growth, radically shifting market.

Monument Capital Group Holdings Co-founder Robert J.Dunn said:

“Changes in the global security landscape are creating a demand for different kinds of technology developed by new, small to midcap technology-led companies. Monument Capital Group Holdings is targeting investment at those companies that have the potential for significant growth. We use our expertise and access to emerging markets to create significant opportunities for investors and innovative firms alike.”

Michael Leiter, Professor Micali and Professor Pentland join an MCGH team that comprises leading figures from the worlds of finance, private equity, government and the technology security sectors.

Health Care

Aptuit Names Dr. Paul Overton Executive VP, Business Development & Marketing; Enhances Sterile Drug Product Capabilities

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GREENWICH, Conn., July 16, 2014 /PRNewswire/ — Aptuit LLC has appointed Paul D. Overton, Ph.D., as Executive Vice President, Business Development and Marketing, making him responsible for all of Aptuit’s sales and marketing activities.

Jonathan Goldman, M.D., Aptuit’s Chief Executive Officer, said, “Paul’s expertise in business development, marketing and corporate leadership, as well as his hands-on work as a scientist, give him a unique skill set that will greatly benefit our clients and help in advancing Aptuit’s position as a market leader. Our team of global sales professionals has a strong understanding of market needs, and their approach to customer partnerships and problem solving will be enhanced under Paul’s leadership.”

Paul Overton successfully led the Global Sales, Marketing and Programme Management team at Huntingdon Life Sciences and grew the business significantly year on year despite the challenges in the non-clinical CRO market. He was instrumental in developing late stage discovery and translational sciences partnerships for the company. During his tenure he realigned Marketing into the Sales function and rolled out a market-leading Content Marketing Program utilizing social media. Before his association with Huntingdon, Dr. Overton held key leadership positions at Covance Laboratories, LCG Biosciences, Origin Pharmaceutical Services and Cambridge Life Sciences.

Dr. Overton, who will be based in the United Kingdom, will report directly to Dr. Goldman and will be a member of Aptuit’s Executive Committee. In accepting his new role at Aptuit, Dr. Overton stated, “I believe Aptuit has a truly unique value proposition to the pharmaceutical industry. We have the ability to deliver integrated development solutions from early discovery to patient in a timely, efficient and scientifically robust manner. I am really pleased to be part the Aptuit team and look forward to the exciting growth that is ahead for us.”

Glasgow Site Upgrades Cytotoxic Drug Product Manufacturing
Dr. Goldman also announced that a one million dollar investment in Aptuit’s Glasgow, Scotland facility financed an upgrade in the site’s sterile cytotoxic liquid and lyophilized drug product manufacturing capabilities. This upgrade, which will address the industry’s current need for capacity in cytotoxic GMP clinical supply, will be operational by January 2015. The installation of an Autofiller with Restricted Access Barrier Technology (RABs) will enable larger batch sizes for liquid and lyophilized drug products, increasing capacities from 2,000 units to more than 9,000 units. Additionally, the new equipment will achieve greater sterility assurance and operator protection.

David Stevens, Senior Director and Site Head at Aptuit Glasgow, noted that cytotoxics account for a real opportunity for Aptuit. He said, “It is expected that biopharmas will be increasing their cytotoxic injectable outsourcing over the next few years, driven by the robust demand for oncology and other high potency drugs such as Antibody Drug Conjugates (ADCs) and IV fluids requiring a quick onset of action. Our substantial experience with ADCs adds to the distinct advantage that clients have in working with us in this key area.”

Dr. Goldman concluded, “Through the high caliber of our commercial and scientific leadership, Aptuit is in prime position to deliver the drug discovery and development support that pharmaceutical companies of every size and emerging biotechs need.”

For more information, please send an email to info@aptuit.com or contact Maria Garvey, Delfino Marketing at 914-747-1400 or maria@delfino.com.

Aptuit LLC provides the most complete set of integrated early to mid-phase drug development services in the pharmaceutical industry including Drug Design & Discovery, Preclinical Biosciences, API Development and Manufacture, Solid State Chemistry, Pharmaceutical Sciences and Aptuit INDiGO® (a fixed-cost program that accelerates drug development). Fully integrated drug discovery & development services are available from a single site at The Aptuit Center for Drug Discovery & Development in Verona, Italy. The company maintains five global facilities with approximately 700 employees in Europe and the United States. Aptuit LLC is partnered with Welsh, Carson, Anderson & Stowe, one of the world’s leading private equity investors.

For more information about Aptuit, visit www.aptuit.com 

Aviation

Noble Group and EIG Form New Energy Company

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HONG KONG and WASHINGTON, July 14, 2014 /PRNewswire/ — Noble Group Limited (SGX: N21) (“Noble”) and EIG Global Energy Partners (“EIG”) today announced the formation and commitment to capitalize Harbour Energy, Ltd (“Harbour Energy”), a company that will own and operate upstream and midstream energy assets globally. Harbour Energy will seek to own high quality assets that provide exposure to key supply trends while capturing value up-lift associated with control of offtake, logistics and supply chain management. Noble will be preferred offtake and marketing partner of Harbour Energy, while EIG, together with the company’s internal management team, will serve as manager of the company and oversee the acquisition of assets. Harbour Energy’s capitalization will be funded solely through balance sheet capital of each of Noble and EIG.

EIG also announced today that Linda Z. Cook has been appointed a Managing Director of EIG, a member of EIG’s Executive Committee and CEO of Harbour Energy.

“The creation of Harbour Energy gives us the exciting opportunity of joining with an industry leader such as EIG to exploit the tremendous opportunities that the changing global energy markets are presenting,” said Yusuf Alireza, Chief Executive Officer of Noble. “This transaction represents a significant milestone in the continued implementation of Noble’s ‘asset light’ strategy, exploiting our best in class expertise in logistics and supply chain management, while partnering with market leading asset managers and owners.”

R. Blair Thomas, Chief Executive Officer of EIG, said, “New sources of supply, together with demand growth in Asia, are driving fundamental changes in the energy sector and related trade flows. By partnering with Noble, we believe Harbour Energy will be uniquely positioned to benefit from the established global platforms of each of our firms and capture value both through the ownership and operational improvement of assets and the flow business those assets generate. We couldn’t be more pleased that someone of the caliber of Linda Cook has agreed to join EIG and serve as CEO of Harbour Energy. She is an extraordinarily accomplished senior executive with deep operating and management expertise across all facets of the global energy industry.”