NEWS Compiled by Hannah Medioni
GDF SUEZ sells a minority stake in hydrocarbon fields located in the British North Sea to Total ||| GDF SUEZ has signed an agreement with Total for the disposal of its 10.4% indirect participation in the Elgin-Franklin gas and condensates fields. This participation is held through a 22.5% shareholding in EFOG, a joint-venture between GDF SUEZ and Total E&P UK Ltd (77.5%, operator), which holds a 46.2% stake in the Elgin-Franklin fields located in the United Kingdom North Sea. The transaction is expected to be completed at the end of 2011 and is part of the Group’s portfolio optimisation program of €10 billion, announced at the 2010 annual results presentation
Over half of small and medium sized businesses expect no disruption from London 2012 say Deloitte ||| With less than 7 months to go to the start of London 2012, over half of small and medium sized businesses expect no disruption to their operations as a result of the Olympic and Paralympic Games, according to a new report from Deloitte, the official professional services provider to London 2012. Entrepreneurship UK surveyed owners of private businesses, of which 80% generate revenues of £50m or less, and found that 59% of respondents across the country believed the Games will have no impact on their business as usual operations. Even in London the figure was only marginally lower at 55%. Transport is the biggest concern with 14% of small and medium sized enterprises in London citing it as an issue ahead of next summer. Staff unavailability was the next highest worry with 8% of respondents from London concerned. “There will be three million additional journeys on the busiest days of the Games, whilst transport and logistics restrictions will be in place throughout the Games period, which extends for several weeks, underlines Rick Cudworth, head of the Business Continuity & Resilience team at Deloitte. “In our research with larger companies we have
seen the levels of understanding about the potential impact of the Games significantly increase in the past 12 months. 95% of larger companies will assess the impact the Games could have on their operations.” The research also discovered that the vast majority of small and medium sized businesses do not feel that London 2012 will lead to an increase in demand for their products or services. 74% of companies across the country believe the Games will have a neutral impact on sales, whilst this figure was 72% in London. However, just under a quarter (24%) of small and medium sized businesses in London do believe the Games will provide a revenue boost with just 4% fearing a negative effect. Tony Cohen, Head of Entrepreneurial Business at Deloitte, said: “We know from Sydney, Beijing and Vancouver that businesses tend to underestimate the sheer breadth and scale of the impact of the Olympic and Paralympic Games, and this survey suggests it could happen again in London – despite the huge opportunity. Companies large and small should be planning now to take advantage of increased demand and new customers.”
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NEWS
Inauguration of Air France’s first solar energy facility at Valbonne ||| As part of its environmental policy, Air France decided to participate in the establishment of a photovoltaic energy production plant at its information technology center at Valbonne, in France’s Alps. The project, named “Helios,” is deployed on the site with the highest production potential among Air France sites located on the French mainland. It allows many of the benefits of photovoltaics to be obtained including the use of a free and abundant energy source that is sustainable
and helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The facility is composed of solar panels integrated on six parking structures in the center’s main parking lot. The electricity produced is then sold to French utility company, EDF. The plant includes 3,540 photovoltaic modules, with 5,855 m² of cells, eventually 1 GWH / year, representing 10% of the site’s annual electricity consumption, equivalent to the annual electricity consumption of 400 households.
JCDecaux Airport wins digital screen advertising contract with Eurostar at St Pancras International station ||| Last November JCDecaux Airport has won a fiercely contested competitive tender to manage the contract for digital advertising for Eurostar at St Pancras International Station. This will be the first digital advertising at the Eurostar terminal at St Pancras International, since the high-speed passenger service moved to the iconic London station in 2007. James Cheesewright, Chief Financial Officer for
Eurostar International Ltd commented: “St Pancras International has been our iconic London home for four years and we are delighted to announce JCDecaux Airport as our first digital advertising supplier for the station. We were impressed by JCDecaux’s experience of working with other transport hubs and we’re confident that they’ll provide Eurostar passengers with well-designed advertising that will enhance the customer experience.”
Fabergé’s historic return to London’s Mayfair and at Harrods ||| Last November, for the first time in almost a century, Fabergé returned with a new home in the heart of London’s prestigious jewellery area, at 14A Grafton Street in Mayfair. Due to the repatriation of Russian resources at the beginning of the First World War, the last Fabergé store in London (of which the illustrious H C Bainbridge was manager) closed in 1915. That store, then located at 173 Bond Street, was a renowned destination visited by royalty, nobility, potentates, tycoons, socialites and connoisseurs from around the world. Fabergé first opened in London in 1906 at 48 Dover Street, moving to Bond Street in 1910. The new store features a special and striking lilac façade for the festive season, evoking the guilloche and enamel techniques for which Fabergé was renowned. The distinctive interior - warm, evocative and modern - is a seamless fusion of old and new. Fabergé is further pleased to announce that its jewellery and watch collections are now available at the world famous Harrods in Knightsbridge.
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The old Fabergé store at 173 Bond Street
NEWS
Business Solutions- Disneyland Paris awarded a Bronze MIMA in the best website category ||| The Meetings Industry Marketing Awards (MIMA) were launched in 2002 to raise the standards of marketing in the meetings and events industry and to recognise the marketers. Organised by Meetings & Incentive Travel magazine, the 10th presentation banquet dinner took place on 17th October 2011 at the Park Plaza Riverbank London. The event was a resounding success with nearly 370 guests. They were gathered to celebrate the year’s best marketing initiatives. An international panel of judges Laura Faure – industry experts, opinion leaders, agencies and corporates, and key accounts – examined
the applications and decided on the winners. The judging criteria included having clear objectives, the campaign strategy, creativity, the execution of the campaign, budget management and return on investment. Business Solutions - Disneyland® Paris was greatly honoured to receive the bronze MIMA for their new website, launched in November 2010. The website was given a complete overhaul and adapted to the needs and expectations of professionals: user-friendly, intuitive navigation, new interactive features and even more news and information about our destination.
French Radio London celebrates one year on air ||| French Radio London (FRL), the UK’s only terrestrial French radio station, celebrated its first anniversary in November 2011. The station has moved from strength to strength in its first year of operation, exceeding 55,000 listeners and 12,000 unique page views weekly in its first five months. Not only has the station become very popular for the UK based French community and Francophiles, FRL has also amassed some very exciting partnerships that will ensure the brand continues to grow and flourish.
EDF Energy, Britain’s largest energy generator and major sponsor of the Olympics, has just partnered with the radio to sponsor its daily sports reports, weekly sports shows as well as the upcoming bi-monthly show Rendez-vous Olympique. French Radio London has inked further exciting partnerships, including travel shows sponsored by Air France and Pierre et Vacances, and long term campaign partnerships with Nicolas Wine and TV5 Monde.
French Bubbles opens pop up champagne bar & Shop ||| A vivacious concept that’s bursting with bubbles, it brings together French Bubbles’ twenty awardwinning champagnes and an amazing selection of French cheese and charcuterie from Une Normande à Londres. Opening on 1st December at 22 Wellington Street, Covent Garden, it is the perfect place to have a great food and Champagne experience, or to have some fun before or after theatre. Clients will also have the opportunity to buy French Bubbles Champagnes and amazing selections of cheese as well as special delicatessen products from home made jam to unique terrines, from fois-gras to Champagne Biscuit! Opening hours: 11am -11pm / Closed on Mondays
French Bubbles shop window
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NEWS
easyJet launches fastest airline phone app
||| easyJet launched its first smart phone app. The free app, suitable for both iPhones and Android smart phones, will enable passengers to search fares, book flights and much more while they are on the move via their phones. It is the fastest airline booking app available, enabling passengers to book a flight on more than 580 routes in less than 30 seconds! Everyone who downloads the app and is logged in will have a personalised homescreen which recognises them, shows them a countdown clock to their next
booked flight displaying information in one of five European languages. “We are sure the app will be a big hit with our passengers when they want to book flights but we know it will also be invaluable in times of disruption – like the snow of last winter – because passengers will have access to all the information they need as well as having the ability to change their flights in seconds said Peter Duffy, Marketing Director for easyJet. The key features of the app mean passengers can; • search & book flights including both standard and flexi fares • add luggage, sports equipment and speedy boarding to their booking up to two hours before flying • check flight status by arrivals, departures and flight number for scheduled, actual and estimated flight times • manage bookings to change flight bookings or add APIS information • change bookings or process refunds and transfers, particularly useful at times of disruption.
J.M. Weston celebrates 120 years of French elegance ||| Founded in Limoges in 1891, the J.M. Weston brand opened its first boutique at 98 Boulevard de Courcelles, in Paris, in 1927. The location was a landmark for social graces in the fashionable districts, more of a gentlemen’s club than a store. Men of taste met there to discuss horse racing, hunting parties and the latest fashions from England over a cup of coffee, and to talk over the latest political developments of the new century. J.M. Weston had grown from its beginnings as a shoemaker providing
men with elegant, perfectly comfortable shoes and come to embody a certain lifestyle. In honor of its 120th anniversary, the cherche midi publishing house will release J.M. Weston, a story told by the author Didier van Cauwelaert about the special relationship that Weston had developed with the famous shoes over the years. The book is a homage to a craftsman and his artwork of eternal beauty. It also brings to light the stories of all the people that contributed to the legend of Weston.
Hermès wins ‘International Luxury Brand’ Award by Walpole ||| Walpole, a not-for-profit organisation that represents the British luxury industry and 170 leading luxury brands, revealed the winners of its annual awards last November. The awards covered ten different categories: British Luxury Brand, International Luxury Brand, British Luxury Overseas, British Luxury Brand Online, British Luxury Design Talent, Best British Craftsmanship, Best British Luxury Service, Emerging British Luxury Brand, British
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Cultural Excellence, Corporate Social Responsibility. Sponsored by McArthurGlen Group, the ‘International Luxury Brand’ Award is given to an international (nonBritish) luxury brand with the greatest impact in terms of sales both in the UK and overseas, innovation, customer service and business & media exposure in 2011. Competition was tough with Ermenegildo Zegna, Lanvin, St Regis Hotels and Tom Ford all nominated for the award that was eventually given to Hermès.
NEWS
Hats off to... Bernard Vasseur, Head of the Lycée Français joins the ranks of Officers of the famous Order The Head of the Lycée Français Charles de Gaulle in London’s South Kensington, Bernard Vasseur, has been awarded the title of Officier dans l’Ordre des Palmes Académiques for his distinguished contribution to French education. Mr Vasseur already held the title of Chevalier (Knight) which he obtained back in 1998. The ceremony took place at the Lycée Français in December 2011 in the presence of French officials from the French Ministry of Culture and the French Embassy in London. The medallion symbolising Mr Vasseur’s promotion was given to him on behalf of the French Minister of Education. Stuart McInnes, Managing Partner of Pritchard Englefield Solicitors appointed arbitrator for the Games Pritchard Englefield Solicitors announced in December the appointment of its Managing Partner, Stuart McInnes MBE as an arbitrator for the London 2012 Olympic Games. He will sit in the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS) – an Ad Hoc Division created by the International Council for Arbitration for Sports. The body was established by the International Olympic Committee to resolve legal issues within the sports field. Out of the 12 arbitrators, Mr McInnes is the only one from the UK. He has been an Arbitrator to the CAS in Lausanne, Switzerland, since 2005.
hello, goodbye...
T
he French Chamber of Commerce would like to welcome the new representatives of existing member companies. We would also like to express our gratitude to members who have made outstanding contributions to the Chamber, but who are now moving on to different destinations. We wish them all the best in their new posts.
Alain-Pierre Raynaud was recently appointed Chairman of Areva UK
Alain-Pierre Raynaud
||| He replaced Jean-Jacques Gautrot, who was Chairman and CEO since 2008. Mr. Raynaud is a graduate of the Institut d’Etudes Politiques in Paris and holds a doctorate in Economics. He began his career as a financial analyst and was head of the Italian subsidiary of the Worms Bank before moving to Renault in 1987, where he became Head of Financial Operations, and subsequently Chief Controller Officer and a member of the group’s Management Committee. In 2003, he moved to Japan as a member of the Jean-Jacques Gautrot Executive Committee of Nissan, where he was in charge of the Cost Control and IT Services Departments and of the group’s financial operations. In September 2006, he became AREVA’s CFO.
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