Game Changers ISSUE #37
Extraordinary GC meets the Exness MENA Team Leaders.
GAME CHANGERS
DIRECTORY O1 O2 O3 O4 O5 O6 O7 O8 O9 1O 11 12 13 14 15 16
Note from the editor View from the top. 03
Meet the MENA Team Leaders Exness. 04-09
Michal Karczewski Match-Trade Technologies. 10-17
Viktor Madarasz Exclusive Capital. 18-21
Lars Gottwik TRADANTS. 22-24
Iva Bogicevic Breinrock. 25-26
GC:INVESTIGATES If you want to be popular, sell ice creams. 27
Stathis Christophi & Demetris Kyriacou. Deneo Partners. 28-29
Memnia Christofi Deneo Partners. 30-31
Shareholders Agreements Andria Papageorgiou Law Firm. 32-33
Stavros Psyllos Verv. 34-37
GC:LUXURY 5 Things To Do In Boracay. 39-41
GC:EAT Bono. 42-43
GC: FEMME GUCCI & BALENCIAGA. 44-47
GC:HOMME JAMES BOND SPECIAL. 48-52
GC:FITNESS Luis Ribeiro. 54-57
VIEW FROM THE TOP
Hello everyone, First of all let me wish you all a very Happy Christmas, and many thanks to all of you for your continued support of Game Changers over the past year. We have had a great twelve months, with more views, followers, shares and also more awards being won! Since the previous edition we have been lucky enough to start travelling again to both London and Dubai, so it has been nice to get off the rock after almost a two year stay. It was great to be in the different cities again, and see large amounts of people and different places to go and eat. It’s strange the things that you miss the most, are the things that you were happy to leave behind. In this edition we are really happy to have on the cover Exness and their staff members from the Emirates region. It was great to have a kind of different style of interview in the content creation. After the great feedback we had for Match Trade in the previous GC, it was great to have a welcome return once again along with Iva Bogicevic, Viktor Madrasz, Stathis Christophi , Denetris Kyriacou, Memnia Christofi, Andria Papageorgiou, Stefano Sordini, Lars Gottwink, Stavros Psyllos, Gabriel Styllas, Luis Ribiero and Paula Cabildo. A sincere thanks to everyone who who makes it happen, and to the great design work of Vera! Have a fantastic Christmas everyone...enjoy!
Paul ORFORD EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Game Changers
Meet the MENA Team Leaders A GC Exclusive with Exness
A multi-asset broker and fintech company with a record-breaking $1 trillion monthly trading volume in October 2021, Exness has been sending ripples through the industry since its inception in 2008, and continues to witness rapid growth and global milestones to this day. In particular, Exness has witnessed outstanding growth in the MENA region this past year, and has taken home numerous distinguished awards such as Most Innovative Broker at the Dubai Expo 2021, Best Customer Support award and Best Premium Loyalty Program award at the Financial Markets Exhibition in Cairo. Just this August, we met with Mohamad Ibrahim, the broker’s Regional Director for the MENA region. We discussed the Exness brand and how its values account for its success to date, we spoke all things MENA, from what local clients look for to how marketing works best in the region, and we discovered a little more about Exness’ take on the potential of the region at large. Today, we shift the spotlight to the team leaders making the magic happen behind the scenes. Without further ado, meet the Exness MENA team leaders.
Mohamad Ibrahim Issue Director #37 Regional (MENA Region)
Lamees Hoteit Background Lamees is Exness’ Regional Marketing Manager for the MENA region. Her mission is to expand the Exness brand reach and introduce its superb customer value to clients in the region. She is an experienced marketing professional within the fintech industry with a background in retail banking and education. Lamees holds dual degrees in Business Administration, from the American University of Beirut, and in Education, from Brunel University in London. She is passionate about working with a diverse range of people and forming meaningful connections, and is always striving to build strong relationships as part of her job. Business Motto Together, everyone achieves more. Life Motto Life is a dance, just catch the beat.
Lamees Hoteit Regional Marketing Manager (MENA Region)
Mini Interview What differentiates Exness from other brokers? Exness stands out as a broker in many ways. For me, the most obvious and admirable of those is its focus on people - whether that’s clients, partners or employees. Customers’ interest is put at the forefront of everything we do at Exness; from the way our products and technology are built and constantly adapted and innovated, to the way we offer customer support and rewards. Equally, Exness values its partners and employees and goes to great lengths to promote their well being and enable their growth and development.
What is so special about the MENA region when it comes to the world of investment? The MENA region is a very exciting place to be working within, due to its unique cultural, geopolitical and historic characteristics. For a marketing professional, this makes it both a challenge and an opportunity. Furthermore, the client base from this region is like no other; it consists mostly of the young and ambitious, who are jostling to find ways to achieve more within the ever changing and challenging environment that the region is facing. Learning how to serve them well and provide them with that unique Exness value, is a very rewarding exercise.
Wael Makarem Background Wael is Exness’ Senior Market Strategist for the MENA region, a Certified Investment Management Analyst by the Investment and Wealth Institute and The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, and an associate member of the Chartered Institute of Securities and Investments. During his career, he has conducted countless webinars and seminars where he has shared his knowledge and expertise with traders and investors. Representing Exness, he is a weekly guest on several TV shows where he explains his vision of the markets to investors. His analysis is also frequently quoted and cited in world-class media such as Reuters, Yahoo Finance, and Gulf News. Business Motto Ethics and integrity rank above financials. In business, there is always money on the table but what matters the most is deserving it.
Wael Makarem Senior Market Strategist (MENA Region)
Life Motto Sharing rough experiences can save others from suffering.
Mini Interview What differentiates Exness from other brokers? Exness’s approach to doing business is really customer-centric which differentiates it from other players in the industry, especially those who put their business goals ahead of their clients’ interests. Investing heavily in technology and implementing scientific methods in all perspectives, in addition to the integrity of the management team, has driven the company to acquiring a leadership position in the market.
What is so special about the MENA region when it comes to the world of investment? The youth in the MENA region are seeking more knowledge about investments, putting in the time and effort to understand how different financial markets operate and how they can benefit from its movements. Investing is becoming more and more popular, and due to challenges in different countries, this generation is keen - through proper investing- to ease the impact of numerous challenges that they are facing. P-5
Shadi Salloum Background Shadi has been in the financial services industry for 11 years, holding important sales positions in some of the sector’s biggest companies. Having studied Economics at Aleppo University, he graduated and entered the world of finance immediately with a keen appetite to add value to the experience of investors. At Exness, he leads a team of relationship managers, focusing on creating and maintaining relationships with clients. It is Shadi’s strong belief that we make our own luck through hard work, dedication and constant self improvement. Business Motto Failure is nothing but another piece shaping your success story.
Shadi Salloum Senior Key Account Manager (MENA Region)
Life Motto What cannot break you only makes you stronger.
Mini Interview What differentiates Exness from other brokers? Exness is a multi-asset, data-driven broker that has managed to establish the best working environment through its clear mission and vision for employees, clients and partners alike. Characterised by integrity, Exness successfully equips our global clients with nothing but the best trading tools and features, and us as employees with the best conditions for professional growth.
What is so special about the MENA region when it comes to the world of investment? It’s a region with incredible potential, fast evolving needs and a vast pool of clients, all of which have driven many in the financial sector to explore it. Upon opportunity I would like to mention the diversity of the region, which can be reflected in the Exness MENA team itself. This allows us to have a wide reach and expand rapidly in the region, as we forge ties with many clients from different corners of the Middle East and North Africa.
Negin Negahdari Background Negin has been working in the financial services sector for three years, and at the age of 23 she is one of the youngest professionals in the field. A dynamic individual, Negin prides herself on her problem solving skills, her ability to take initiative and her commitment to delivering results. At Exness, she handles a portfolio of high value partners and clients, building on the brand’s presence in the region and establishing strong relationships with partners and clients. Her main focus is to ensure clients experience a smooth onboarding process and that all of their needs are met. Business Motto Hgh-risk, high return. Life Motto Act or accept.
Negin Negahdari Key Account Manager (MENA Region)
Mini Interview What differentiates Exness from other brokers? Honesty and transparency are two of the company’s key principles, and are highly valued by our clients. Exness clients around the world are growing in number. I am extremely proud to be a part of this growth and to be able to work with such like minded people in the industry. I have been learning non-stop since I joined exness.
GAME CHANGERS Issue #37
What is so special about the MENA region when it comes to the world of investment? The MENA region is famous for its Islamic culture and rich history. Although the region was a late adopter of FX as an asset class, it has certainly picked up speed and in recent years, welcomed it with open arms. As far as size is concerned, the UAE by far leads the way in terms of FX market size and maturity and thanks to investment into financial market infrastructure, the country now serves as a regional hub for retail and institutional traders.
Ghadi Wakim Background Ghadi has over 10 years’ experience in the financial services sector and is currently handling a portfolio of high value partners and clients for the MENA region at Exness. The early years of his career saw him as an investment advisor, while later on he moved to be a relationship manager. Ghadi holds a BA in Economics from Saint Joseph University Beirut and an MBA from ESA Business School Beirut. He describes himself as self-driven and motivated and considers his strong knowledge of the financial markets as key in being able to build relationships with clients and partners, thus helping expand the Exness business. Business Motto Don’t worry about building the whole wall, just lay one perfect brick every day. Ghadi Wakim Key Account Manager (MENA Region)
Life Motto Integrity is doing the right thing even when no one is watching.
Mini Interview What differentiates Exness from other brokers? Exness prides itself on creating the most efficient and frictionless trading conditions for its clients through its robust, algorithmic technology. On a personal level, I consider that what is so special about Exness is that it cares about its clients and aims at building long lasting relationships with them. This is proven not only through how clients are treated, but by conditions such as null compensations, our gap level rule, no market impact, swap-free trading, etc.
What is so special about the MENA region when it comes to the world of investment? The MENA region benefits from a privileged geographical location, access to large markets, numerous fast growing economies, as well as a young and increasingly educated population. All of this creates an opportunity for us to offer our services to hedgers, speculators and investors, who can all benefit from our progressive technology and services as we expand in the region.
Simon Massabni Background Simon-Peter Massabni has a demonstrated history in the fintech industry and has recently joined exness to lead a team of relationship managers responsible for creating and maintaining relationships with partners and clients. Simon holds a degree in Marketing Communications and has been working in sales and business development related roles since 2009. Simon believes that businesses should focus not only on customer acquisition but also on retention through exceptional service. In addition to being a seasoned sales expert, Simon is also an experienced speaker and trainer, having travelled extensively to make numerous presentations and public appearances. Through his experience in leading teams, he has come to discover that whilst each individual is unique and uniquely driven, nothing compares to a team which shares a common vision and values and whose members push each other towards success. Business Motto Whenever one enjoys their job, they never have to work a single day in their life. Simon Massabni Senior Key Account Manager (MENA Region)
Life Motto Push yourself beyond your limits.
Mini Interview What differentiates Exness from other brokers? Exness, to me, is like a Japanese candlestick in a chart; it has brought together my passion, my skills, my achievements and my dreams, all into one place. A scientific approach and integrity were not the only factors about the Exness Ideology that enticed me. The fintech market lacks empathy, and Exness is built upon care, starting from the directors and rippling through all employees. Exness takes care of our physical and mental well being, which is something truly unique. They recognise that well nurtured employees will guarantee an excellent service.
What is so special about the MENA region when it comes to the world of investment? The MENA region presents a challenging market; one where it is difficult to excel and stand out when it comes to various elements, from payment solutions, smooth and safe trading conditions, competitive pricing, competent partnership remuneration and generous loyalty programs. The challenge itself makes the region special, and acts as proof of what an outstanding broker Exness is, having managed to grow exponentially in the region and with many more plans for continued growth. P-7
GAME CHANGERS Issue #37
Shayma Ghanim Background Shayma is an experienced sales team leader with a demonstrated history of working in the FX markets for over 10 years, between Cyprus and Dubai. At Exness, she leads a team of relationship managers, focusing on creating and maintaining relationships with clients. She holds a BA in Economics and Finance and an MA in International Relations. With a strategic understanding of different financial services, as well as regulatory bodies such as DIFC, FCA, and CySEC, Shayma has a strong grasp of the infrastructure within which brokers operate. Her strengths lie in creating new leads for the company, and building and maintaining a strong client base by assessing deals and anchoring offers, but above all by understanding clients’ requirements. Business Motto Life begins at the end of your comfort zone. Life Motto Pick your battles.
Shayma Ghanim Senior Key Account Manager (MENA)
Mini Interview What differentiates Exness from other brokers? Exness is a multi-asset broker which offers distinguished trading conditions and outstanding execution, always keeping in line with our values of ethics and integrity. Exness has created its own scientific and algorithmicled product development approach, and I am very glad to be part of a broker that has such an ideology. I can definitely call myself a proud Exnessian and I look forward to being part of the company’s next milestones, both in MENA and globally.
Issue #37
What is so special about the MENA region when it comes to the world of investment? The strategic location of the MENA region in the middle of the old world (Asia, Africa and Europe) makes it an important financial hub for FX flow, especially because of the increased awareness that is attracting new traders everyday. The MENA region has great potential and Exness is discovering that potential every day.
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Match-Trade Technologies MICHAEL KARCZEWSKI Chief Operating Officer
Q Could you tell us more about the beginnings of the Match-Trade brand? It’s a little piece of history as the company turns 9 in March. It started like most businesses, I suppose, from wanting to have something of your own - being able to pursue your ideas the way we saw that fit. All board members have worked together at some point, we knew each other well, and we trusted our competencies. To this day, we have clearly divided areas of responsibility because everyone is an expert in a slightly different field. But we all gained experience working for a large European forex broker, and we know the industry inside out. We got to know from the inside how the brokerage company works and what traders need and expect. It was only natural to start the technology provider for forex brokers as we had the business know-how and high IT skills to
GAME CHANGERS Issue #37
develop technology that was missing on the market and thus improve the functioning of popular systems. This is what we initially based our business model on, selling our own technology bundled with popular WLs, and creating added value for our clients. Q Did the more stringent law changes regarding FX make you look further abroad to expand your business? Yes, of course. The industry is constantly changing, and I’ve observed that for a decade. It has been clear for several years now that the industry is moving towards tighter regulation. There is no doubt about it; the rules of doing forex business will continue to tighten. But no wonder wider regulations are to increase the safety of investors. Even a company like Match-Trade, which provides technology, therefore,
Broker Solutions Hub Everything you need to run a successful Forex Brokerage available in one place
WHITE LABELS PLATFORMS
MULTI-ASSET LIQUIDITY & MARKET DATA
BROKER MANAGEMENT APP
MT4/MT5 BRIDGE & AGGREGATION
EFFECTIVE PAYMENT SOLUTIONS
BUSINESS SETUP & CONSULTING
Match-Trade Technologies voted The Best Technology Provider 2021 P - 11
is not subject to any regulations, had to adapt in some way. We are constantly developing new features in our proprietary trading platform or management app, so they meet all the requirements. We cooperate with local PSPs around the world cause it’s the best way to meet legal requirements. We are not looking for half measures. We’re aiming for permanent solutions. Hence the strategic partnership with the regulated Liquidity Provider I have co-founded. We are also expanding Match-Trade’s Cyprus team looking to acquire FX consultants for the MENA region. I can’t reveal too many details, but recently a Business Development Manager has joined our team. His main focus will be further business expansion, including a new area of regulation. Q With it being to get PSP’s for offshore brands, will this change the nature of the WL business as a whole? It seems that there are many different aspects that influence the changes in the White Label broker market. For example, MetaQuotes changed its pricing and compliance policy. The largest producer of White Label platforms changes important business aspects of their offer. Ultra popular MT4 White Label Brokers are
GAME CHANGERS Issue #37
Michael Karczewski Chief Operating Officer at Match-Trade Technologies
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Match-Prime is a brand owned and operated by MTG Liquidity Limited, authorised and regulated by the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission under licence Nr 390/20. As a prime broker Match-Prime holds no direct retail clientele. P - 13
are slowly becoming a thing of the past. The area without regulations is also shrinking more and more, which can be explained by the pressure from banks and financial institutions. But on the other hand, we also see a change in mentality and an increase in the traders’ expectations. With such a saturation of the market of forex brokers, it is practically impossible to compete in terms of offers. You have to look for new ways to attract and retain customers. And those are modern software providing all-in-one solutions and the best possible customer service. The new generation of traders puts convenience above all else; what counts is speed and simplicity. Therefore, I believe that meeting the basic conditions for trading, such as the proper operation of the platform and the ability to make deposits with a card, is no longer enough to grow your brokerage and be successful in this industry. And we have indeed been noticing for a while the demand for tailored solutions among our WL customers. Q Were you ever tempted to have your own retail brokerage? That’s a tricky question. Well, yes and no. I think that everyone in this industry at some point has considered opening a retail broker. Especially after many years of work, when you already have a lot of experience and have gone through the path of obtaining a license, you sort of paved the way. Plus, Match-Trader, our proprietary trading platform, has just won the People’s choice Forex Award for the Best Multi-asset Trading Platform. So technically, I’ve got the know-how and the best possible tools… But I also know how time and resource-consuming is growing the technology provider we are. How Match-Trade has developed in the last two years has exceeded all forecasts and even our expectations. We are very proud and put all our energy into expanding our Broker Solutions Hub. Life has taught me never to say never, but for now, we focus only on brokerage services.
GAME CHANGERS Issue #37
Q It appears the future of FX WL providers is following your lead by combining a tech and liquidity provider. Is this complex to run on a day to day basis? I believe it’s the best way to run your business. It’s definitely the best combination for our clients. As a technology and liquidity combo, we can offer a level of flexibility rarely found on the market. The technology behind the Match-Prime Liquidity was developed in-house by the Match-Trade team; we’re not limited by any third-party systems; we don’t need to negotiate any changes or adjust to someone else’s software. The only thing that limits us is reason and time. The most important thing for our clients is to react as fast as possible to changes in the market. Whenever there’s a new hype for the unusual instrument starting on the market, we make sure to add those into our clients’ offers ASAP. We constantly monitor the situation on the market and expand our instruments’ offer so we don’t miss the momentum of new coins skyrocketing fueled by the social network. We can also create synthetic instruments at Broker’s demand. Besides, when you get to know how it feels to have one team that takes care of everything, you will never go back to dealing with multiple providers. Of course, I’m exaggerating, but it’s things like good relations, trust and support that makes the difference. Q In 2022 will you be looking to add to your current brands or develop what you have? As I mentioned, we’ve got so many things going on right now that we’re definitely focusing on improving what we have. We want to set market trends and bring new quality to the table, so we are polishing new features of the Match-Trader platform and enhancing our Client Office and CRM to meet the requirements of professional sales systems. I can only say that we started as a fintech startup is now shifting towards an international corporation, so you will see significant changes, but that’s all the details I can give for the moment.
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GAME CHANGERS Issue Svetlana Kulikova, Head of#37 Cyprus Office. Match-Trade Technologies
Bespoke Liquidity Solution for Professional Clients Match-Prime Liquidity, a Forex and CFD Liquidity Provider, combining deep, multi-asset liquidity for over 1000 instruments and equities with ultra-fast connectivity to deliver tailor-made solutions that aim to improve business growth. We provide transparent conditions and an individual approach to each client to ensure the highest quality of offered solutions. • Competitive pricing • Ultra-fast execution • Low latency Data Feed • Market Depth up to 10 levels • Quick Bridge/ FIX API integration • Direct access to institutional liquidity pools • Fast-track onboarding • Three-month free trial period • Only Institutional Clients on a Prime of Prime model
Stavros Economides Chief Operating Officer
Match-Prime is a brand owned and operated by MTG Liquidity Limited, authorised and regulated by the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission under licence Nr 390/20. As a prime broker Match-Prime holds no direct retail clientele.
Andreas Kapsos Chief Executive Officer
Website: match-prime.com E-mail: info@match-prime.com Whatsapp: +357 97 647476 P - 17
GAME CHANGERS Issue #37
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TRADANTS LARS GOTTWIK Founder & CEO of TRADANTS
Q How have your priorities changed since exiting JFD Group? My priorities have changed significantly after leaving the company - however, despite that JFD was a great experience and a remarkable success, I very much enjoy working in a true startup environment again. I founded TRADANTS straight after leaving JFD with the vision to merge the fintech and gaming industries and gamify trading on a global scale. Q What inspired you to develop your idea? I got the idea a few years ago while chatting with some friends about the rise of esports and the potential in this industry. I believe trading should be an epic esport where traders and teams can become famous ‘rock stars’ with a global audience and fanbase. Q What is unique about your business? What’s unique about our company is that it merges esports, capital markets and skill-gaming. We do not only disrupt those three industries but create an entirely new one through continuous innovation. Q How did you decide where to establish your company? Our company’s headquarters are in Germany, and we have a stable branch in Bulgaria as well. Both locations have been a logical choice - all founding partners of TRADANTS are German and Bulgarian and
GAME CHANGERS Issue #37
Lars Gottwik Founder & CEO of TRADANTS
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have an existing network and available resources to kick things off in those countries. We are scaling our IT, Web and Platform Development Teams in Bulgaria, and in Germany, we focus on Sales, Administration and Corporate Actions.
sometimes - you face numerous obstacles and every time you fail, you have to get up and try again and again while you remain focused on your goal. You need to be patient and persistent, and that is quite challenging.
Q What challenges did you have to overcome at the beginning of your new journey?
Q How do you manage feelings of doubt? Can they be managed, really?
As usual, starting a company in its first months is a wild ride where everybody does everything simultaneously, yet for the third time in a row. I am used to that, but this time, the most significant difference compared to JFD is the absence of licenced activities, making it fundamentally easier and faster to get things going. Q How do you define success? For me, it is to have the courage to do your thing without caring about what others say. Q How do you plan for your business’s future? We have a very ambitious roadmap planned for TRADANTS. It includes several further funding rounds and preparing for global expansion. It took us quite some time to define our core values and what we want to achieve by gamifying trading, but now we have a clear game plan in mind. However, we are realistic enough to know that pivoting a business due to unforeseen reasons can (and potentially will) happen at any time. Q What do you consider non-negotiable in your business? Our core values - UX first, courage changes everything, dare to dream, stay humble and fail forward! Q What are the qualities of a good entrepreneur? For me, those are courage, discipline, and vision. Q What do you enjoy most about being an entrepreneur? I ran companies in very different industries - I started in the music and festival business, moved to capital markets, and am now in esports & skill-gaming. Throughout my career, I met many different people with different characters, travelled to many countries, and so far lived a life that has been the opposite of boring or ordinary. This dynamic is what I genuinely enjoy about entrepreneurship. Q What do you find most challenging about being an entrepreneur? Well, running your own business can be hard
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Q What have been your most significant failures, and what did you learn from them? In my early years as an entrepreneur, I was very naive and believed in everything promised to me. However, the biggest lesson from all these years as a business owner is that just a handful of people deliver 100% of what they promise. If you have found a business partner that you can trust, then stay with him - it’s the rarest quality that one can find in business. Q What makes an effective leader? I don’t know if I am qualified to answer this, as I am learning so many things every day. Probably it is a mixture of empowerment, leading by example and delivering the ‘why’.
Ask Iva! IVA BOGICEVIC Breinrock
Why paying less costs you more!
Iva Bogicevic Breinrock
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Dear Iva, Being a CFO I have to make sure that my brand has the best possible banking solution for my C2B and B2B strategy. In your opinion should I consider transaction costs as the key detail when looking to use an EMI? Richard - London.
Dear Richard, It’s a great question as you have to balance value and security when looking at a solution. Ideally it is probably best that you have several banking solutions to hedge your risk in this respect, so if you have problems with a primary solution you have a back up and your business does not stop. Of course nobody likes these types of banking challenges, however if you are operating an offshore brand, it is good to have several options based upon the assumption that at some point you will need and plan B and C. In answer to your question regarding cost over quality, it is a very interesting one as it covers several points. When you speak to the representative of the banking institution, find out what you are paying for. This may seem incredibly basic, however not all EMI’s are created equal, so ask how many banks are in their network, what is their rating, how many local routes do you have access to. By asking this you can get a good idea of the quality of the people you are dealing with. If they just have a relationship with only two banks from non- AAA rated jurisdictions then maybe you want to renegotiate the fee’s from the off. At Breinrock we are incredibly proud of not offering rock bottom pricing, as we feel as we offer a high quality service. Having 12 AAA rated banks in our network, along with over 50 local routes and our own technology. These things all come with costs, of offering you a high quality service as we have to pay our end to manage the relationships with the banks etc. I think any owner is more than happy to accept higher fees, if you explain to them what they recieve for the service, if they can see value and the additional security of a 12 AAA banking network that their funds are held in, then the cost is completely justified. As they say, pay cheap...pay twice! Kind regards, Iva Bogicevic You can find out more about Breinrocks 12 AAA rated bank network by taking a look at their site breinrock.com
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GC:INVESTIGATES If you want to be popular, sell ice creams. ANONYMOUS Successful CEO of Frumpton IT solutions provider Geoffrey Pondland sensationally quit his role at Frumption Universal Kinetic IT Solutions, which was popularly known as F.U.K IT Solutions to sell ice cream and for people to see the kinder side to him. Former workplace curmudgeon said that after an outstanding career of making people thoroughly miserable in the workplace, he felt it was time for change. “My role model was Steve Jobs, who based on many Linkedin posts is attributed to saying if you want to make everyone happy, don’t be a leader, sell ice creams.” Geoffrey chuckled “After making it part of my daily to do list to make at least 3 people bring employment related legal cases against me, I thought it was time for a change and to make people happy.So i followed SJ’s advice and started selling ice creams as per the gif.”
The former microchip maverick went further “With the lockdown and whatnot, us army of ice cream sellers are hit the hardest by not being able to sell. We really are the silent victims of the lockdown. Yeah we may have 150,000 dead in the UK. However, the real sadness is me having to have my leg removed at the knee from diabetes because I have been eating nothing but ice cream for the past six months.”
In an ironic twist of fate,Geoffrey admitted that he is now as miserable as his former employees, due to having over five hundred thousand pounds in ice cream sitting in deep freeze due to the lock down, restricting his ability to become the dairy king of Frumpton.
The hopping mad ice cream sobbed dairy based tears as he finished with “I wish I never saw that post on Linkedin filling me with false hope. I would pack it all in now and go back to my thrice weekly employment tribunals, rather than live in this constant neapolitan frozen hell.”
Deneo Partners STATHIS CHRISTOPHI & DEMETRIS KYRIACOU Managing Directors
Stathis Christophi Managing Director
Q Who are you and why did you start Deneo Partners? We formed Deneo Partners in 2017, following a long career in the financial services sector and leveraging our extensive experience in holding managerial positions at established, multi-national entities. Over the years we have created formidable business partnerships with international institutions while developing a network of trusted partners worldwide. Our combined experience and know-how in the global financial markets and investment banking, particularly in regulatory and compliance, audit and finance, advisory and corporate finance allows us to offer comprehensive services for organizations and individuals across the globe, assisting them in turning challenges into opportunities. We founded Deneo Partners with the aim to provide our clients with strategic advice on the most important decisions they face, in order to create and maintain value. We follow a very personalized approach and aim to understand our clients’ business and create long-term relationships. Since we founded Deneo Partners in 2017, we have established offices in Cyprus and Seychelles and we have managed to create and maintain relationships with some of the biggest investment firms in the world. GAME CHANGERS Issue #37
Demetris Kyriacou Managing Director
Q What is the background of Deneo? Deneo Partners is a financial advisory firm that provides a wide range of services to both private clients and corporations. We combine advisory and industry experience which allows us to understand the most complex of issues and provide efficient solutions. Our senior management and employees have years of experience both on the advisory side, having spent years in investment banking, internal audit, external audit as well as on the industry side, where they held senior positions in global organizations. We aim to provide solutions to the most complex issues our clients face, through a hands-on and professional approach that safeguards and enhances value. Deneo Partners specializes in providing the below services: • •
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Global Licensing for investment firms including Forex and CFD Brokers Compliance Services including compliance and AML support, as well as outsourced compliance services for Seychelles Securities Dealer firms Accounting, tax, internal and external audit Legal and corporate including incorporation services and legal opinions Corporate finance advisory including corporate restructuring, capital raising and acquisitions
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Account opening with global banking institutions, EMIs and PSPs
Q What are the key points that you are attracting new clients? We pride ourselves in providing the full package of services in many different jurisdictions, for clients looking for a high quality, one-stop shop of regulatory, financial, advisory and corporate services for their entities, whether they are starting in a specific jurisdiction or already hold a presence in their respective industry. Our clients can make use of our expertise to obtain a global license, streamline their compliance and accounting functions, gain access to banking institutions around the world, and overall assist with reaching their strategic goals in the most efficient and effective way. Our preferred modus operandi is to get a deep understanding of a client’s business and what they aim to achieve, and provide an effective and forwardlooking solution tailor-made to meet our client’s most challenging issues. In addition, our close-to-zero turnover of employees gives clients the advantage of having the same people service them across the full cycle of their package, who know their company profile and business plan well and can efficiently address their specific needs. Q The FX eco system has many consultants, what makes a good one? It’s important for a consulting firm to consist of people that come from the industry and so possess
the know-how of how each aspect of the clients’ operations works, to address and provide solutions accordingly. Along with a diverse team, having a large network of specialists in the industry is also key in providing clients with that extra edge to push them ahead of the competition, and gives us as Deneo Partners our recognizable brand of services. Q Is it possible to use your services to open a full brokerage for me? Absolutely. Once a jurisdiction and license type is selected we assist in handling the whole set-up, from the incorporation of the entity, obtaining the broker’s license from the local regulatory authority, and assisting/advising on the set up of the operations as per the local regulatory requirements. We additionally help firms identify and recruit fit and proper directors and staff, and handle the ongoing regulatory reporting obligations in line with the protocols and procedures set by the supervisory authority. We utilize our contacts to bring clients in contact with professional service providers that we work with for all aspects of the brokerage, including for trading platforms, CRM platforms, marketing and IT services, and banks/EMI and PSP accounts. Q What’s the best way to reach you for more info? You can contact Deneo Partners at info@deneopartners.com to arrange a call or face-to-face meeting. Moreover follow us on our social media pages: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/deneopartners LinkedIn: https://cy.linkedin.com/company/deneo-partners
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Deneo Partners MEMNIA CHRISTOFI Associate, Banking Services Department
Q What was your background prior joining Deneo Partners? I have studied Business Management in the UK and worked at several companies in the Healthcare sector, both in the UK and in Cyprus. Following my arrival in Cyprus and before joining Deneo Partners, I had joined a well-established FX Group of companies in Limassol. My position there was a Banking and PSPs Officer and the focus of my work was on finding and onboarding banking and PSP solutions for the Group’s operations around the globe. Q What made you choose them? One of the main reasons that lead to my decision was the reputation of the company and its directors in the market. Both Mr. Demetris Kyriacou and Mr. Stathis Christophi have years of experience in this sector and lead the company with a clear focus and the determination to provide the best solutions and services for both existing and potential clients. The second reason was the fact that this position was a career advancement compared to my previous role, since it gave me the opportunity to be in an advisory position, with more responsibilities and challenging tasks. The company is open minded and always seeks alternative solutions. The work ethic is such that promotes initiative and forward thinking. These factors were key in my decision to join this winning team. Q GC is read predominantly by decision makers in FX. How can you help them with the offshore payments and banking crisis that they are experiencing? As we have all come to realize, the FX industry has become very demanding, particularly in regards to the regulations behind obtaining bank accounts, whether these are in onshore or offshore jurisdictions. There have been major changes in the digital and tech industry and, therefore, we now see a rapid transition from traditional banking solutions. More and more of the world’s greatest minds choose to leave the traditional banking and finance sector and focus on the development of alternative payment method (APM) solutions, because this is where the future of payment belongs to. At Deneo Partners, our experience and expertise GAME CHANGERS Issue #37
Memnia Christofi Associate, Banking Services Department
allow us to find the appropriate solution for our clients, since we have close business relationships with many banks/EMIs and PSPs around the globe. It is important to mention that we are always searching for novel and alternative solutions and aim to broaden our connections with more banks/EMIs and PSPs in order to facilitate every aspect of our clients’ needs. Q Everyone is also looking for a solid crypto solution. Can you help with this? Generally, there is a worldwide outburst in terms of solid crypto solutions, which is mainly due to the fast evolution and the lack of regulations in this sector. What we do is provide clients with solutions when there is the need for crypto exchange platforms, meaning from Crypto to FIAT and vice versa. Q What kind of solutions can you provide related to payments? As a company, we are very proud not only of the quality of the services we provide but also because we continuously seek alternative solutions and frequently update our payment methods. We therefore continue to grow together with the industry and our objec-
tive is to provide our services to an even wider range of clients. For example, the banking and PSP solutions currently offered are not solely tailored for FX industries; they can also apply to clients coming from different backgrounds, such as construction, shipping and technology companies. Below we list the range of solutions that we currently provide: Banking • Dedicated corporate and clients’ accounts • Individual accounts • B2B-B2C-C2B • Multicurrency • SEPA/SWIFT EMIs – Electronic money Institution • Dedicated corporate and clients’ accounts • B2B-B2C-C2B available • Multicurrencies • SEPA/SWIFT • VIBANS can be opened for PSP settlements PSPs- Payment Service providers • Payment Service Providers – EU and offshore jurisdictions • APMs- Alternative Payment Methods - EU and offshore jurisdictions • E-wallets • Credit Card processing – EU and offshore jurisdictions • Payment links - EU and offshore jurisdictions • Exchange platforms
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Shareholders Agreements Andria Papageorgiou Law Firm
Introduction:
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Shareholders’ rights and obligations;
Under the Cyprus Companies Law, Cap 113 (hereinafter the ‘’Law’’), all private limited Companies are required to adopt articles of association (hereinafter the ‘’AoA’’) and a memorandum of association upon their incorporation. The AoA specify the regulations for a Company’s operations and management, and they set out the administrative and Company law procedures for carrying out the business affairs of the Company. It goes without saying that they are being drafted in accordance with the Law so that the provisions of Law are reflected in the regulations of a Company. The AoA are public documents, and the public can review them through the Registrar of Companies and Official Receiver of Cyprus.
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Regulate the issuance, transfer and sale of shares of the Company;
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Regulate the appointment and resignation/ removal of Directors;
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Restrictions on the activities of the Company, including provisions, requiring consent of all Shareholders, or approval by specific majority to enter new areas of business or territories;
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Set out provisions to resolve deadlock situations;
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Non-Competition issue, including provsions preventing shareholders from setting up competing business, to the Company, within a prescribed time period, or territory;
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Regulate the amount and way of declaring dividends;
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Confidentiality issue, including provisions relating to the exposure to publicity of the Company’s documents (Under Cyprus Law there is no obligation for the registration or deposit of the SHA with the Registrar of Companies); and
When should the Shareholders enter a SHA:
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Set out provisions for dispute resolution procedures.
From our experience, we would recommend for a SHA to be signed at the stage when you form the Company and issue the first shares. In fact, it is a good practice to ensure there is a common understanding of Shareholders’ expectations of the business.
What if there is a breach of the SHA:
A Shareholders’ Agreement (hereinafter the ‘’SHA’’) is a private contract between the members of a Company. A SHA regulates the relationship between the Shareholders as well as setting the grounds in the event of a deadlock. Whilst Companies are not legally required to have a SHA (the Law does not make any references to SHA), it is important for the Shareholders to enter a SHA upon the incorporation of the Company in order to be aware of their rights and obligations towards each other. It is not necessary that the Company is a Party to a SHA.
What a SHA usually covers: At Andria Papageorgiou Law Firm, we offer tailor-made solutions for SHAs drafted specifically to avoid future conflicts between the members of a Company, covering, among others, the below issues: •
The Company structure, including the composition of the share capital of the Company;
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In the event of a violation of the SHA by any contracting Party, then the other Party can enforce same by an action for specific performance, and for damages, as well as to apply for an injunction to block the violation of same. It should also be noted however that any term of the SHA which contravenes any statutory provision of the Law is considered invalid under Cyprus Law. In addition to this point a SHA and the AoA of a Company should be consistent with one another.
Conclusion:
AP Law Firm:
A SHA is a valuable tool, for providing a procedural framework, to regulate and govern the internal management of a Company, or joint venture.
Andria Papageorgiou Law Firm can assist you with the below: •
In addition, through the use of a SHA, the Parties can achieve greater protection, of the rights of minority Shareholders, quick resolution of deadlocks, sufficient regulation of the rights of entry, or exit, of shareholders in the Company, secure methods of valuation of the fair value of the shares of the Company etc. Because the SHA, has the additional advantage of not being available to public, unlike the Company’s constitutions, sensitive details, regarding the role of the Parties in the Company’s management, their rights, and obligations etc., may be set out in the SHA. The SHA shall be signed by all registered Shareholders of the Company, as well as by the Company, and in case of conflict between the terms of the AoA, and the terms of the SHA, the terms of the latter, prevail and have superior effect.
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Provision of a Legal Opinion and Advice on the SHA; Drafting of a new tailor-made SHA; Review and Comment on any existing SHA; Provision of a Legal Advice on any dispute arising out of a SHA
Should you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact us at info@apapageorgiou.com. Disclaimer: The information contained in this article is provided for informational purposes only, and should not be construed as legal advice on any matter. Andria Papageorgiou Law Firm is not responsible for any actions (or lack thereof) taken as a result of relying on or in any way using information contained in this article and in no event shall be liable for any damages resulting from reliance on or use of this information.
Verv STAVROS PSYLLOS
It’s no secret that the financial space has been under siege from financial technology disruptors for the better part of the last decade. While any other industry would have suffered from saturation, redefining the banking and payments sector seems to only be hitting its peak. Today we will look at Verv, Financial Services Suite – a platform with white-label availability, and how it’s riding the FinTech wave.
What does Verv do? Verv provides opportunities to businesses of all sizes to spread their wings and access the same resources and options that have traditionally been available to the big corporations. With Verv’s Corporate Business Accounts you can set service fees and instantly settle payments (SEPA, SWIFT). These services are available to businesses operating in the EU (European Union), EEA and the United Kingdom. Furthermore, Verv offers a unique Expense Management infrastructure for handling, processing, paying, and auditing employee-initiated expenses. In today’s competitive business landscape, the last thing you want is to be spending time trying to organize and calculate internal expenses.
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Verv helps you automate that process and focus on acquiring customers and improving your revenuegenerating operations. From accounting integrations, and online filing for employees, you can enjoy a realtime view of your company’s spending and be in total control of your company’s finances. The same logic applies to payroll. You can automate the entire process and cut costs, effort, and time by issuing branded cards and paying employees’ salaries straight to their cards. This not only simplifies the payroll process, but it gives employees a boost in their productivity and morale.
A few words about Stavros Psyllos To help you contextualize Verv’s solution, the thinking behind it and where it sits in the market, it’s important to give you some background information on Verv’s Project Architect, Stavros Psyllos. Stavros boasts a long and rich career in the financial services sector and extended business sphere. He has held management and director positions in many companies throughout the years, building a unique mix of practical and managerial experience. His business acumen and understanding of the shift in the
banking services sector makes him the ideal person to bring Verv to the market. Here are a few words from Stavros regarding Verv and the market opportunity: “Whenever legacy industries are disrupted, there is an opportunity to go back to the drawing board and come up with a product that speaks to the needs of today’s customer. Verv is exactly that – a financial solution with banking features that closes the gap between young entrepreneurship and access to corporate financial services. Verv wants to break the barrier of corporate account-opening; let new businesses spread their wings and growing businesses achieve scale through simple, yet disruptive, payment features”.
Novatti’s crucial role Most new players in the financial technology space have trouble validating their proprietary technology and getting enough use cases onboarded to prove it works. Verv’s advantage over its competition lies in Novatti’s experience of introducing financial products into the market. The Verv financial payments suite is part of the Novatti group of companies, which further adds to its
experience and dynamics and allows Verv to extend the Group’s product range and serve existing Novatti customers in the EU, EEA and UK. Leveraging Novatti’s financial and market experience; ensures Verv enters the market with confidence about the architecture and trustworthiness of its solution. There’s no contemplation or uncertainty regarding the technology behind it. Grow your business with a solution that has everything it takes to get you where you need to be.
Integrations roadmap Verv is by no means a finished product – if anything, they’re just starting up. In the coming months many integrations and features will be released; all of which are in the process of final development. Here is a brief description of what you should expect to see: Offshore banking – the goal is to give non-EU operational companies access to banking services so that they are compliant with EU law Open banking – Open banking will allow the reconciliation and centralization of companies’ current bank accounts so that all accounts and operations are
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accessible through a simple platform Unique payment method for card transactions – White label setups with few restrictions and a smooth user experience Ecosystem creation – Companies can open accounts for customers or their network for instant, more affordable transfers The roadmap doesn’t stop there. The next point of order is licensing local accounts in the following markets: Asia, Latin America, Africa and the US. Verv will also benefit from Novatti’s expansion, by
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incorporating and having its own Cyprus license. To provide some context, the Cyprus office is operational and currently meeting with local forex, gaming and gambling operators, as well as technology companies and other FinTech operations. Moreover, Verv’s compliance department has been thoroughly vetted and recruited from top companies to ensure the highest level of transaction monitoring. There is a lot happening and a more to come from Verv so make sure you stay tuned as you will be hearing from us soon.
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Game Changers Magazine
Lifestyle
GC:LUXURY 5 Things To Do In Boracay
I find it weird and funny when my friends abroad would ask me where the Philippines is, saying that they don’t know much about my country. And the moment I started talking about Boracay, they would all nod in unison and say in chorus “oh the famous Boracay island!” It’s good to know that foreigners have envisioned the Philippines (or at least Boracay) as a paradise. Aside from attracting tourists across the globe, Boracay has given the Philippines numerous awards and recognitions. Earlier this year, White Beach, Boracay placed 2nd in Condé Nast Traveler’s 25 Best Island Beaches in the World: Readers’ Choice Awards in 2020.
How to get to Boracay from Manila
Boracay is a small island situated in the central Philippines. Among the 7,107 islands of the Philippines, Boracay emerged as the most famous and most frequented by tourists. It’s well-known for its white sand beach surrounded by palm trees with an energetic vibe. Whether you want to enjoy the calm waters or thrilling water activities, have a relaxing time alone, or enjoy the nightlife, Boracay has something to offer to you. Here are the 5 things you can do in Boracay.
What better way of getting to know marine life than by joining the sea creatures underwater? Helmet diving is a must-try water activity in Boracay. It lets tourists go down deep into the ocean, enough to meet Nemo and other creatures. And the best part is that there is no need to be an expert swimmer or an experienced diver. Just put the helmet on and you are on your way to a beautiful marine world.
The fastest route from Manila to Boracay is via air travel. You can opt either for Kalibo or Caticlan airport (also known as Boracay airport). Flight to Kalibo is cheaper and would take approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes and 2 hours boat travel to reach Boracay. Flights from Manila to Caticlan are almost the same but only 30 minutes of boat travel to get into the beautiful Boracay island.
Helmet Diving
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Experience the vibrant nightlife Aside from the beach, Boracay is well known for its colorful nightlife. Boracay after dark is so lively that you will be lost in time. Restaurants and bars are scattered all over the beach and you can choose between wild parties, bars, or live music. There is a famous saying that “what happens in Boracay stays in Boracay” so enjoy the night as if no one is watching.
Enjoy the pristine island The sight of clear waters and the feel of fine, powdery white sand is an experience in itself. If you are feeling lazy to do anything, you can just simply look for a spot where you can have a full view of the beach, have a refreshing drink, and just enjoy the magnificent view.
Watch the romantic sunset Before the dark sets in, make sure you have the best spot where you can see the sunset. Sunsets are always romantic but Boracay sunset is like no other! When the sun sets and the skies are either orange or pink, Boracay suddenly turns into a canvas. And you don’t want to miss this perfect piece of art and the only way to bring it home is to take snaps of it so be ready with your camera!
Have a body massage After a day of strolling along the beach and doing exciting activities, your body needs a little pampering. You have the option to have your body massage right at the beach or do it in the spa for a more luxurious feel.
GC:EAT BONO Tel. 25 378800
Being a long term resident of Limassol, I have always found it weird that there is a distinct lack of bars in the area which I call the void. It’s that weird part at the top of Annexandersias Street which has never really catered for this type of market. Despite being in the centre of the city, you would be stuck if you didn’t want to move to far and wanted a couple of drinks and food after work. This area seems to have lots of unremarkable and unsuitable venues for after work drinks and food, that inevitably lead you into moving to other parts of the city so it has always remained a mystery to me why this part of town never had any bars. Let me insert the caveat that there may be those reading, saying that you can go to bar X or place Y. However, we all like a place that is no longer than a 3 minute walk in winter where we don’t have to move cars or make any huge logistical decisions. Just simply open my face hole and pour in booze and eat food. To this end GC stumbled upon a lovely little secret of this area called Bono. With my aversion to anything U2 related, I really was not expecting much based just on its name alone. However, I was very surprised to discover it is a haven to watch the rush hour city centre traffic die down before you make your way home. Unlike its U2 counterpart, Bono’s definitely adds value to our species by offering some form of social utility, along with a huge selection of drinks.
You can find about 200 metres to the left of the 5 exits at the top of Annexandersias Street on the Bank of Cyprus / theatre road., hidden behind vines so it could be quite easy to walk or drive past. I had the special of the day which was chicken tandoori on a stick with rice and salad. Nicely spiced which is hard to find in a non Indian restaurant in this city. Other places you can find a by the numbers standard of a curry, however this a very well presented and tasting dish that would not be out of place in an indian restaurant. I am always intrigued by other dishes, and was very impressed by the presentation of the food that was being served to my fellow patrons, in which you have a very good choice depending on your mood, outside temperature etc. Where it does excel is with the huge amount of beers that are available to choose from. I am not really a beard stroking real ale quaffer, however if I was that way inclined I would have found my home in the city. The overwhelming choice of beers and drinks does make it worth a visit , as I can’t think of too many places in the city with such a wide selection. What did impress me was the knowledge of the waiting staff who had an incredibly detailed knowledge of the drinks on order.
I felt like I had mentally short circuited the attentive waiting person by just ordering a Carlsberg, rather than some peculiar dark ale from Vanuatu...however the customer is always right :-) I am not sure if you would say it is predominantly a bar or restaurant, either way it does not really matter as you definitely come away satisfied with a full stomach and a smile on your face knowing you have missed the evening traffic. The official verdict of GC is a very decent establishment, with great food and prices to match.
GC: FEMME GUCCI & BALENCIAGA.
For the small percentage out there who missed our favorite collaboration of 2021, Gucci and Balenciaga released the ‘Hacker project’ where the two huge names collaborated in bringing the best of both worlds together. Launched in London recently, with some interesting graffiti based campaigns we are wondering if this is the first of many collabs? Here are GC’s favorite pieces...
BRAND: GUCCI & BALENCIAGA NAME: The Hacker project sall GG COST: $2.690 USD
GAME CHANGERS Issue #37
BRAND: GUCCI & BALENCIAGA NAME: The Hacker project triple s sneaker COST: $1.290 USD
BRAND: Dolce & Gabbana NAME: Small velvet devotion bag. COST: € 1.250 www.dolcegabana.com Picture credit: Dolce & Gabbana
BRAND: GUCCI & BALENCIAGA NAME: The Hacker project knife boots COST: $2.500 USD
BRAND: GUCCI & BALENCIAGA NAME: The Hacker project flora print silk scarf COST: $530 USD
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BRAND: GUCCI & BALENCIAGA NAME: The Hacker project medium neo classic bag COST: $2.980 USD
BRAND: GUCCI & BALENCIAGA NAME: The Hacker project knife bootie COST: $1.390 USD
GAME CHANGERS Issue #37
BRAND: GUCCI & BALENCIAGA NAME: The Hacker project maxi GG print silk neck bow COST: $240 USD
GC:HOMME JAMES BOND SPECIAL.
With the end of Daniel Craig’s run as James Bond, GC thought it was only fitting to pick out our favorite JB looks. Do you have a favorite brand that he wore?
Tom Ford
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The American fashion designing icon has been dressing up Daniel Craig as James Bond in classic suits in four consecutive films — Quantum of Solace (2008), Skyfall (2012), Spectre (2015) and No Time To Die (2021). Ford has helped build a fashion statement around Daniel Craig’s persona. The bespoke Tom Ford suits effortlessly help Bond transition from someone attending a business meeting with M to an undercover agent fighting off enemies of Her Majesty.
One of Ford’s best-known additions to Craig’s James Bond style is the slim-cut two-button O’Connor suits. Craig will be seen wearing one of those in No Time to Die. In the same Bond film, where Ford worked with costume designer Suttirat Anne Larlarb, he will wear a Tom Ford black wool Atticus shawl collar cocktail jacket with quilted satin lapel and cuffs. Besides suits, Tom Ford has also teamed up Bond’s look with sunglasses as well as casualwear, similar to the jackets and cardigans seen in Skyfall and Spectre.
Turnbell & Asser
Turnbull & Asser is renowned for its shirts and ties and has been dressing Bond for decades. Sean Connery wore the famous blue cotton cocktail cuffed shirt by Turnbull & Asser at their flagship store on Jermyn Street for Dr. No. Since then, the brand has remained an integral part of the Bond franchise up until Casino Royale.
N.Peal
Apart from a V-neck by John Smedley sported briefly in Skyfall, Daniel Craig has mostly appeared in N.Peal knitwear in Bond films. In No Time to Die, Craig will be seen in an N.Peal navy ribbed army sweater as well as combat trousers, which has been designed with costume designer Suttirat Anne Larlarb. The braces for the outfit are also by N.Peal. The British cashmere knitwear brand first made a blue wave round neck knit for Craig in Skyfall. Moreover, in Spectre N.Peal returned with a fumo grey roll neck and a charcoal mock neck for Craig. Paying homage to Bond and the legacy of his iconic knitwear, N.Peal launched a Fifty Years Of Bond retrospective collection in 2019, featuring 13 different Bond wears from films such as Goldfinger (1964), Live And Let Die (1973) and GoldenEye (1995), among others. These included ivory tubular roll neck sweater, black polo neck sweater in 100 percent cashmere and cable crew neck sweater.
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Paying homage to Bond and the legacy of his iconic knitwear, N.Peal launched a Fifty Years Of Bond retrospective collection in 2019, featuring 13 different Bond wears from films such as Goldfinger (1964), Live And Let Die (1973) and GoldenEye (1995), among others. These included ivory tubular roll neck sweater, black polo neck sweater in 100 percent cashmere and cable crew neck sweater.
Barbour
The benchmark of British outdoor wear, the Ki To is by Barbour Beacon Heritage Sports Jacket created by Japanese designer Tokihito Yoshida.Iy has become one of the most iconic wears among fans of the Bond franchise, not just because of its simplicity but also because many believe it to be more attainable and enduring than other dresses Craig wore on-screen despite its price.Barbour is a British luxury brand, which is famous for its outdoor clothing such as waxed jackets.In No Time to Die, Daniel Craig as James Bond will be seen wearing a navy waxed cotton Barbour Graham jacket, made in collaboration with Engineered Garments.
Crockett & Jones.Crockett & Jones, the shoemaker from Northampton, England, is the preferred brand for
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Daniel Craig’s 007 when it comes to footwear. As Bond, Daniel Craig wears shoes by this brand on most of the formal events in his films. Oxfords and derby shoes by this brand are the go-to style and have been seen most on Bond. In Skyfall, his ensembles featured shoes from the Crockett & Jones range, including Alex, Islay, Tetbury and Highbury. In Spectre, the brand gave Bond a variety of new styles — Camberley, Northcote, Norwich, Radnor and Swansea. Except for Swansea, which was in dark brown suede, all others were in Black Calf. In No Time to Die, Craig is wearing the Molton Dark Brown Rough-Out Suede chukka boots by Crockett & Jones. This is besides the return of Highbury, which will appear in the scene where Bond is sitting in M’s office.
Crockett & Jones has launched a special edition shoe aptly named “James” to celebrate the 25th instalment in the Bond franchise. “James” is a fully leather lined oxford bearing the 007 logo in silver foil on the inside. The shoe is crafted from the finest black box calf leather sourced from European tanneries. The sole is Crockett & Jones signature Hand Grade leather.
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GC:FITNESS LUIS RIBEIRO Founder of Club Health www.clubhealth.uk
Your First Pilates Session: The Benefits, What to Expect & What to Bring
We’ve all been there – looking at the clock counting down the minutes to our first Pilates class, stressing about the level of difficulty, the class vibe, the instructor and all the things that could go wrong. At Club Health, we are not fans of guesswork and have an open war on stress which is exactly why we will tell you every single detail about your first pilates session. Shall we?
Benefits: How Can Pilates Help Me? You’ve heard the old saying “any exercise is better than no exercise”? While that is a very nice motivational trick to get you started in any kind of physical activity, it’s much better to know exactly what each school of exercise has to offer. Knowing what you will gain from Pilates will give you the right kind of incentive to pursue it. Not only that, but it will also educate you on where to look for when measuring progress. More often than not, people that get into Pilates will say things like “I feel better” which while it’s true, it’s also general and vague. Knowing exactly what Pilates does to your body and mind will allow you to see it when it happens.
naked eye. The mental impact is as, if not more, important than the physical one. Pilates is complementary to many traditional fitness routines and the mind-body connection can be useful in preventing stress related illnesses like heart disease. It’s great for sharpening your mental faculties, as well as improving our productivity both at work and at home. The emphasis given on breathing techniques and mindful thinking are integral components of reducing stress and anxiety, enhancing concentration, and even improving sleeping habits. Now let’s move on to the actual workout. What will follow is a set of exercises you will go through with our instructor during your first visits. It goes without saying that these are exercises you can perform in the comfort of your own home.
Workout Breathing Supine (lying on your back) Inhale: Breathe in through the nose, expanding the rib cage three-dimensionally. (4 secs)
Physical Benefits • Improves posture and alignment • Longer, leaner muscles • Better posture • Increases flexibility, balance and coordination • Improves muscular balance and strength • Increases muscular endurance and tone • Prevents injury and heightens body awareness • Enhances athletic performance • Relieves back pain
Exhale: Focus first on the gentle engagement of the pelvic floor (sensation of pulling in and up) and transversus engagement. (The deepest layer of abdominal wall – natural corset around waist) as you exhale more deeply, the obliques will be engaged to help press the air out. (6 to 8 secs)
Mental and Other Health Benefits
Exhale: Same as before. (This time, longer exhalation than inhalation)
Much like an iceberg, most of what Pilates does to us happens below the surface and is not visible to the
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Inhale: Breathe in through the nose, maintaining engagement, and feel three-dimensional expansion of the rib cage and abdomen. (4 secs)
Do this for 5 to 10 reps.
Neutral to Imprint
Inhale: Reach arms to the ceiling again.
Inhale: Maintain a neutral alignment of the spine. Tailbone down; hip bones parallel to the mat under you, allowing a small gap between your lower-back and the mat. The back of your ribs are still down.
Exhale: Lower arms down by your side.
Exhale: Contract abdominals and imprint (lie on your back, knees bent, feet flat). Pull the pelvic bones close to your lower ribs. Gently lift the tail bone, so that the gap between your lower-back and the mat diminishes.
Do this for 5 reps.
Scapula Isolations (Retraction and Protraction – seated comfortable position) Inhale: Raise your arms shoulder height. Retract scapulae, bringing shoulder blades closer together.
Inhale: Maintain an imprinted position.
Exhale: Return scapulae to neutral.
Exhale: Return to neutral. Do this for 5 to 8 reps.
Do this for 5 reps and then start with protraction of the scapulae. During the inhalation, gently push the shoulder blades away from each other.
Arm Raises Inhale: Lay on your back with knees bent, maintaining a neutral alignment and extend your arms to reach the ceiling, palms facing one another. Exhale: Reach arms over your head, only as far as abdominal connection so that contact between the rib cage and mat can be maintained.
Modified Abdominal Preparation Inhale: Lengthen the back of the neck. Arms can be long by the side of your body or behind your head (supporting head and not pulling). Exhale: While maintaining length through back of
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neck, stabilise scapulae, then flex thoracic spine allowing lower ribs to get closer to the pelvic bones. Maintain neutral pelvis throughout the exercise, ensuring engagement of transversus abdominis.
and breathing, the Pilates method of exercise helps restore the natural curves of the spine. The result: a balanced and aligned body that looks fit, feels revitalised and moves with ease.
Inhale: Hold flexion by maintaining abdominal contraction while the back and sides of the rib cage expand. Maintain length in the back of the neck. Exhale: Return the upper body to the Mat, allowing the cervical spine to return to neutral once the head is on the Mat.
Teaching you the basis of the exercises, the technique, the principles and how they are related to body awareness and proper alignment will improve your posture. Pilates incorporates modern exercise science and rehabilitation principles, eliminates contraindicated movements and emphasizes neutral alignment.
Do this for 10 reps.
Is Pilates a challenging activity?
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
As you get familiar with the technique, our pilates instructor can build on it, offering progressions to continue challenging your muscles. Adding more spring tension, or less (many times less tension increases the challenge) adding small equipment or challenging coordination with a combination of different exercises.
Can Pilates help me lose weight? Pilates can be a positive addition to your overall weight-loss program. Weight loss occurs when the number of calories consumed is less than the number of calories expended. The most successful and healthy way to achieve weight loss is an exercise plan that includes an aerobic component coupled with a strength training element, such as Pilates exercise, followed by a balanced diet. Can I fix my posture through Pilates? With a focus on core stability, including pelvic and shoulder girdle stabilisation, neutral alignment
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Does Pilates put any strain on my body? No, when done properly. A Pilates workout is gentle and controlled with a focus on core strength and stability. It is also important, however, that you work with a qualified instructor to ensure you are doing the exercises correctly and avoiding unnecessary tension.
Do I need any prior experience to begin? An experienced Instructor is able to modify the exercises to accommodate any level or limitations, continually challenging you within your ability, and monitor your improvement. Progress may be slow, but a consistent workout schedule with appropriately chosen exercises, attention and focus will ensure results.
What should I wear/bring on my first pilates session? We recommend choosing workout clothing that’s stretchy but not baggy – it will facilitate the instructor to see the alignment of your bones and how your muscles are engaging. Form-fitting and free of metal or plastic adornments such as zippers, buckles, clasps, buttons, or other trimmings. They can damage the upholstered Pilates. Also tie-back tops can be uncomfortable when you’re lying on your back. Ties, belts, drawstrings, and tassels can get caught in the springs of the equipment. We also advise you to remove
accessories or jewellery – long necklaces, belts, and dangling bracelets can be distracting as well as dangerous if they get caught up in the equipment. No shoes needed as Pilates is usually done barefoot. We also recommend you to wear Pilates no slip socks. You may buy a pair with grippy bottoms at Club Health.
What are the differences between Mat and Reformer Pilates? The main difference between mat and reformer is that on the matwork, you only use your body weight as resistance, there’s no footbar, springs, or straps to push or pull against. The surfaces of the Reformer also provide an “táctil cue” or “feedback,” information that helps your brain orient your body in space. Both include unique Preparatory, Essential, Intermediate, and Advanced level workouts, as well as balanced exercise sequences and modifications to address special populations.
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