The Executive Magazine 23.2

p02. From Rags to Riches

p04. Turning Tragedy into a Business

p06. The CEO Who Tried to Kill His Company

p12. Digital Agency Making Waves

p14. LVMH Buys Belmond Hotel Chain

p16. Health & Wellbeing for Executives

LIFESTYLE

p18. The Ivy Launches in Manchester

p22. The Executive Traveller: Orlando

p28. Luxury Wings Over China

p30. Relaunch For Costa Rica Four Seasons

p32. The Executive Christmas Gift Guide

p42. Hublot Releases Bitcoin Watch

p44. The Executive Profiles: Franck Dubarry

p46. Aston Martin Teams up With Tag Heur

p48. Bugatti & Champagne Carbon Join Forces

p58. All-Electric Porsche Gets Green Light

MB&F Launches New Time Piece p36

All-New Bentley Continental GT p52

Riches FromRags to

Meet the five business tycoons who have made a name for themselves against all the odds.

WWe often read stories of successful businessmen and women who have climbed to the top and established themselves as leaders in their fields – but many, if not most, of them had a fortunate upbringing to underpin their successes. While that doesn’t make their achievements any less laudable, it’s certainly inspiring to read the stories of those who have made a name of themselves out of nothing but sheer determination and perseverance. As well as offering a solid dose of motivation –quite welcome in these times of widespread economic and political uncertainty, if you ask me – these successful business magnates have come to show that anyone can have a chance of making it to the top.

Ursula

Burns Xerox

As the first black woman to lead a Fortune 500 company – following on from another woman, no less – Burns is pretty much as inspirational as it gets She was raised by a single mother – who, along with Burns’ father, was an immigrant from Panama – in the largest New York City Housing Authority public housing complex, or what Burns herself called a “rough and tumble” area. Being female, poor and black would seem to most like the odds were stacked against her, but according to Burns, her mother didn’t see it that way – and worked hard to provide her with the best education possible “on a modest salary.”

Sure enough, Burns went on to obtain a degree in mechanical engineering from New York University in 1980 and, a year later, became a master of science in the same field after graduating from the prestigious Columbia University. Her educational background didn’t stop there, either: she has since received honorary degrees from various other universities in the United States.

Her professional background was equally as impressive. She first worked for Xerox as a summer intern in 1980, and then took up different roles in product development and planning at the company before being appointed as executive assistant. Shortly before the turn of the decade, Burns solidified her career in the company with a job as

vice president for global manufacturing; three years later, she became president of business group operations; in 2007, she assumed the role of president; and soon after, in 2009, she was named CEO, succeeding Anne Mulcahy.

Not only has she made history and blazed a new trail for women – and especially women of colour – all across the country, Burns’ success story extends far beyond Xerox itself. She was appointed by President Barack Obama to help lead a White House STEM programme in 2009, where she remained as leader until 2016; was made vice chair of the President’s Export Council for a year; and has served on numerous boards across the corporate landscape. Glass ceiling who?

Sir Richard Branson Virgin Group

He may now be the UK’s most well-known business figure, making his mark in the country and beyond through Virgin Group, which controls more than 400 companies across a wide span of industries. But Branson’s life wasn’t always this glamorous.

A dyslexic with reportedly poor academic performance, Branson left school when he was just 16 to start a magazine called ‘Student,’ which, as the title suggests, was run by and for students. The venture wasn’t an outright success, but it did provide him with an outlet through which to advertise popular records – and from that, he decided to start a mail-order record business. It proved so popular that he eventually dropped the magazine and opened his own record shop, trading under the now recognisable brand ‘Virgin.’

The young entrepreneur then embarked on a series of business ventures, from launching his own record label with Nik Powell to setting up his own recording studio in Oxford – famous for signing often controversial bands that other labels were hesitant to do so, such as the Sex Pistols.

And as anybody could tell you, he has expanded far beyond the music industry since the 70s, with the Virgin brand now operating across a series of sectors including air, rail, spaceflight, healthcare, films and jewellery, to name just a few. He has since been knighted for his services to entrepreneurship, named part of the 100 Greatest Britons by the BBC, and boasts a net worth of over $5bn.

Much like Burns, Schultz grew up in a New York City Housing Authority in the 50s along with his brother and younger sister. The son of a truck driver and a receptionist, Schultz’s upbringing was financially difficult, pushing him to find an escape from his working-class lifestyle in sports such as baseball, football and basketball. As a result, he earned an athletic scholarship to Northern Michigan University, making him the first university graduate in his family.

Albeit never having dreamed of becoming a businessman, Schultz landed a salesman job at Xerox as part of the company’s training programme, which provided him with basic experience in the field and helped him later take up the position of general manager at a Swedish coffee maker manufacturer, Hammarplast. It was during this job that he came across Starbucks, a small coffee franchise with four stores in Seattle which had ordered an unusually large amount of plastic cone filters. Keeping in contact with the company over the year that followed, Schultz eventually joined the firm as its director of marketing.

But if you think it was then all smooth sailing, think again. After the Starbucks owners refused to roll out Schultz’s pilot concept of turning the shop into a café as we know it today – rather than selling just traditional espresso beverages, he argued it should strive to become an important element of culture and society, much like it was in Italy at the time – he decided to pack up and leave. Receiving help from donors who were impressed by his desire to “take a gamble,” Schultz managed to open ‘Il Giornale,’ which strived to mimic the Italian experience by selling ice cream and playing opera music.

A couple of years later, the Starbucks owners decided to focus exclusively on another coffee brand and sold the business and its retail unit to Schultz for just under $4m. From then, he decided to rename Il Giornale to Starbucks and embarked on an aggressive expansion plan across the United States. And, well, the rest is history.

Indra Nooyi PepsiCo

She has consistently ranked amongst the world’s most powerful women –but Nooyi’s early life betrays our image of who she is today. Born in Madras (now known as Chennai), in India, she made her way across

the pond to the United States to study business at Yale University, with little money to back her up. She took up a job as receptionist during her college days, working from midnight to sunrise because the graveyard shift paid slightly better, in order to finance a nice suit to wear for job interviews in the business management field. Her remarkable work ethic has always been pointed to as one of the major reasons for her success, and one that has served her well in the corporate ladder.

After graduating in 1980, she held positions at the Boston Consulting Group and Motorola before joining PepsiCo in 1994. Just seven years later – and after leading the brand’s major restructuring, including several mergers and acquisitions – she was named chief financial officer. In 2006, she became the company’s fifth-ever and first female CEO.

Since being made CFO in 2001, the company’s profits have soared from just under $3bn to a whopping $6.5bn, and Nooyi has since been named one of the most powerful women in business by names like Forbes, Time and Fortune.

Do Won Chang Forever 21

Growing up in South Korea, Chang worked in coffee shops – so when he emigrated to California with his wife in the 80s, near penniless and speaking broken English, he tried desperately to make it big in the same industry.

When that didn’t work out as planned, Chang did everything from being a janitor to pumping gas until reaching the cathartic realisation that would parachute him into becoming the major fashion retail tycoon he is today: he noticed that those who drove the nicest cars were all in the garment business. Motivated by this epiphany, he opened his first 900-square-feet clothing store in 1984, then named Fashion 21. Sales quickly took off and he raked in $700,000 in his first year alone – a far cry from the three previous shops that had occupied the same retail space, all of which folded within months.

Today, the family-owned company, now renamed Forever 21, is one of the fastest-growing retailers in the world and brings in billions in sales from over 600 stores across the the Americas, Asia, the Middle East and the UK. Turns out hot joe wasn’t Chang’s golden ticket to the coveted American dream after all.

Howard Schultz Starbucks

Business TurningTragedy into a

II founded Flood Protection Solutions Ltd in 2012, aged 18, alongside studying for a degree in Civil Engineering. The company became the sole UK importer of the Water-Gate barrier from Megasecur. The business has grown over the past 6 years into one of the UK’s leading flood defence companies, offering a range of products and services. Last year the turnover was in excess of 2 million pounds, with clients including Thames Water, the NHS and the Environment Agency.

Why I Started a Flood Protection Company?

I’m always asked “why flood defence? That’s an odd business to set up!”. It all started back in 2007 when my parents’ house was flooded. We were out of the house for nearly a year whilst it was repaired, and the insurance claim was around £120,000. We never wanted to go through the upheaval, expense, or stress again. We scoured the market looking for flood defences, but the products available either seemed far too expensive, or too slow. We lived in a 3-sided valley where flash flooding occurred, and it was vital that any system could be deployed quickly. We then came across a unique Canadian product called the Water-Gate barrier and ordered one. It is a temporary flood barrier which is rolled out and then self deploys using the weight of water to hold it back.

In the intervening years, everything was pretty quiet until July of 2012. Once again rain the like of which would normally be seen in the tropics hit our village. The Main Street became like a brown, fast flowing river. We rolled out our Water-Gate barrier and it completely saved the house from flooding.

Local residents and the Environment Agency were amazed by how easy to use and effective the barrier was. I researched the product and discovered it was available in 25 countries around the World, but not in the U.K. I contacted the manufacturer, and following a meeting in Paris, I secured the sole UK distributor rights for the product.

Since the company’s inception we have supplied tens of kilometres

of Water-Gate barrier, thousands of Water Pumps, and surveyed hundreds of sites. We have some fantastic case studies and are incredibly passionate about our work.

The flood sector is incredibly challenging and is plagued by ‘feast and famine funding’. This makes business planning, training, and development difficult. Funding is reactive from the Government after a flood event and we have had to look at ways of ensuring we remain able to succeed and continue to reduce flood risk across the U.K. Our developments included launching an ecommerce site for water pumps, and developing an ‘On-Demand’ training system. Alongside this, we work with top consultants across the U.K enabling us to advise on flood mitigation measures and help protect homes and businesses from the traumatic experience of being flooded.

Having been a 2007 flood victim, I am incredibly passionate about my work, and believe that this has been key to the company’s success. We have developed an enviable reputation and are chosen by many media outlets, including Sky News.

Flooding is the biggest threat to the U.K as a result of climate change, and it has far reaching affects beyond a home being flooded. Flooding affects our food supply chain, transport networks and infrastructure. Despite this, the education and awareness of flooding remains low. Did you know 1 in 6 homes in the U.K are at risk of flooding?

I’m on a mission to raise awareness of flood risk and we have recently interviewed flood victims from across the U.K for a video highlighting what it is like to be flooded, and what the impact was on the individual. After a flood, once the TV cameras have left, the victims are often forgotten about, but it can take them around 6-12 months to get back into their properties. Flooding is extremely disruptive.

I have learnt an incredible amount of the last six years, and as a result of my commitment to the industry, I was lucky enough to be included by Forbes Magazine in their 30 Under 30 List, along with winning Young Entrepreneur of the Year at the Great British Entrepreneur Awards, and being voted as a Top100 Real Leader in the World. I’m intrigued to see what the future holds, both for me as an engineer and entrepreneur, and also for my company – Flood Protection Solutions Ltd.

Simon Crowther, CEO of Flood Protection Solutions, writes for The Executive Magazine on how a devastating natural disaster inspired him to create the UK’s largest flood defence company.

Meet The Ceo Who Tried To Kill His Own Business

Peter Reinhardt, co-founder and chief executive of customer data infrastructure firm Segment tried to shut down his business. Now it’s worth £35m.

RReinhardt was determined to kill the idea behind Segment before it was even developed, but he now runs a very successful and rapidly expanding business. Segment is a popular business tool, which allows companies to untangle customer data sourced from different pieces of analytics and metrics software, as well as data about customer purchasing habits.

With an impressive client list including IBM, Levi’s and 21st Century Fox, Segment has around 19,000 users, each paying a subscription fee.

The initial idea behind the software was born through a small piece of computer code that was written to solve the companies own data pipeline problems. When the team suggested turning this code into a commercial available tool and form the basis of a new business model, Reinhardt immediately dismissed the idea.

Referred to as ‘the worst idea I have ever heard’ Reinhardt battled all day with his partners. The problem, as he saw it, was that this simple

piece of code was open source – meaning it had already been made available openly available to developers at no cost.

Reinhardt was determined to prove that this was not a viable business model, so built “a really beautiful website” that explained what the code did, offering a product based on the code which hadn’t yet been built.

“We’ll put it up in the developer community and we’ll see what happens,” he says, convinced that there wouldn’t be any interest, and killing the idea before they put any more time into the project.

He was wrong. Within 24 hours of the website going live, the company was inundated with thousands of enquiries about the product, which hadn’t actually been built. After a few hours of emails and calls, it was obvious that the team actually needed to build the product.

It took 5 solid days of hard work and sleepless nights to produce a working, hosted version of the software, and in the first month they had 70 companies using Segment as a service. Initially worried about charging for the service, Reinhardt soon found that many customers were happy to pay USD$120,000 per year.

After significant growth, Forbes estimates the company’s 2018 revenue at USD$45m (£35m).

Aviation Gin & Virgin Atlantic Partnership Announced

Ryan Reynolds is a household name thanks to his illustrious film career, and his latest role as Deadpool has catapulted him into the limelight once again. But Reynolds is also passionate about business, and his latest venture sees him delving into the world of gin.

After tasting Aviation Gin for the first time whilst on vacation in Oregon, Reynolds loved it so much that he bought the company, he said, “Aviation is the best tasting gin in the world. Once I tried it, I knew I wanted to get involved with the company in a big way.”

Wine and spirit aficionados Wine Enthusiast Magazine have rated Aviation Gin a record breaking 97/100 points, citing its smoothness and softness on the palate. The gin is crafted in small batches in Portland, Oregon, and has a unique botanical profile, with caraway and juniper in the background and citrus and floral notes in the front, finishing with a dry, faintly spicy taste. Crafted as an artisan spirit, the blend has been created to form the foundations for more balanced cocktails, as well as to be enjoyed neat.

Reynolds isn’t just the face of the brand, along with his investments he’stakinganactiveroleinthedaytodayrunningofthebusiness,as well as over overseeing the creative direction of the marketing. This included a new bottle design and media and press relationships, built on Reynolds’s prolific profile.

The move caught the attention of Virgin Group Founder Sir Richard Branson, and meeting with Reynolds, a partnership was born. Branson says “I’m delighted Virgin Atlantic is working with Ryan and his team on this partnership. Aviation Gin was born out of a spirit of innovation, so serving it on board Virgin Atlantic flights seemed like the perfect combination.”

Ever the joker, with a jovial spirit, Reynolds remarked on the

partnership; “I’ve been a huge fan of Sir Richard Branson and Virgin for years. For Aviation to be chosen as the gin of choice for such an iconic and quintessentially British brand is a complete honour. We look forward to serving Virgin Atlantic guests for years to come and, on a personal note, Sir Richard has promised to teach me the difference between revenue and profit, so I am beyond excited.”

We dropped Ryan an email, unfortunately he was “away from his desk”, and we received a spirited automated response in his true comedic style:

“Thank you for your email and interest in Aviation American Gin! I’m away from my desk at the moment but will respond the moment they give me a desk.

“About a year ago, I tried Aviation for the first time. Since that day, I’ve spent my time finding some way to infiltrate the company. I did this for one simple reason: It’s the best damn gin on the planet. Period.

“My responsibilities here at the company are vast. I’ll spend my days being photographed intermittently clinching my jaw muscles while pointing at things and nodding. I’ll drink Aviation Gin. I’ll sit in board meetings, imagining my very own Red Wedding.

“I don’t know whose idea it was to allow me into the gin business, but I can assure you, there are smarter, more reasonable people in charge.

“Thank you again for your email… If the matter is urgent, please contact my secretary, Bruce, who’ll respond the moment I get a secretary named Bruce.”

He signed off the note as “Ryan Reynolds, owner, Aviation American Gin”.

Along with the Virgin Atlantic partnership, there are plenty more opportunities lined up for the brand, and with such a huge backing and celebrity endorsements, Aviation Gin is set to make waves in the spirits and cocktails industry.

Film-star and owner of Aviation Gin Ryan Reynolds meets with Sir Richard Branson to form Virgin Atlantic partnership. The Executive Magazine finds out more.

New Digital Agency Are Making Waves In The Caribbean

The Executive Magazine caught up with digital media agency Henman Kelburn, who are celebrating securing a deal to design and develop an innovative new web portal for the Caribbean islands.

AA relatively new name in the digital world, HK are a formation of industry professionals based in Manchester. With a focus on all things web, creative, and technical. The agency has already made an impact on the industry by securing a substantial contract to design, develop and maintain an online portal which will help Carribean islands to connect businesses, residents and expats.

With a strong team of experts from their respective fields, HK are locatedinManchestercitycentre.Thecollectiveofexpertsprovideafull spectrum of creative digital services, including branding, web design, online marketing, app design, publication design, as well as bespoke

software creation and social media marketing, to name just a few.

The Caribbean project is the brainchild of marketing entrepreneur Tony Herbert, who chose HK to tackle the large scale job based on their expertise and fresh ideas.

HK Managing Director Ian Manson describes the project as “a very exciting and challenging undertaking which will test the teams abilities, and allows us to really demonstrate our full capabilities. The initial design, development and beta testing have proved hugely successful and well received by the client.”

There’s still a long way to go, with a final launch expected early 2019, but once completed, the portal will be rolled out to multiple islands across the Caribbean including St Kitts & Nevis, Trinidad & Tobago, and St Martin.

Luxury Group LVMH Completes $3.2bn Purchase Of Hotel Chain Belmond

MMoët Hennessy Louis Vuitton (LVMH) and Belmond Ltd— the part-owners or managers of 46 luxury hotel, restaurant, train, and river cruise properties— jointly announced the definitive agreement for the purchase.

The total deal includes LVMH acquiring Belmond for $25 per Class A share in cash, representing an equity value of $3.2bn. In the 12 months ending on 30 September 2018, Belmond recorded total revenues of $572m.

Belmond’s iconic properties include hotels such as the Hotel Cipriani in Venice, Hotel Splendido in Portofino, and Copacabana Palace in Rio de Janerio, amongst other world-famous stayovers. Not only this, but Belmond also runs legendary train services such as the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, and beautiful cruises including the Belmond Afloat in France fleet.

Chairman of the board of directors at Belmond Ltd Roland Hernandez said following “deep interest” from a wide range of real estate and lodging companies, the board concluded this transaction provides an “exciting path forward with a group that appreciates Belmond’s irreplaceable assets.”

Roeland Vos, Belmond’s president and CEO, said: “Today’s announcement is the result of the strong execution of our strategic vision that builds on our pioneering legacy and is an exciting development for all stakeholders, including our employees.

“We are confident that, as part of LVMH’s world-class family of brands, Belmond’s ability to deliver timeless, one-of-a-kind luxury experiences will reach new levels.”

LVMH is represented in wines and spirits by a portfolio of bands that include Moët & Chandon, Dom Pérignon, and Hennessy. Its fashion and leather goods division includes Louis Vuitton, Fendi, Givenchy, and Berluti— whilst its watch and jewellery division consists of Bvlgari, TAG Heuer, and Hublot.

Bernard Arnault, chairman and CEO of LVMH said: “Belmond delivers unique experiences to discerning travellers and owns a number of exceptional assets in the most desirable destinations.

“Its heritage, its innovative services, its excellence in execution and its entrepreneurship resonates well with the values of the Group and is complementary to our own Cheval Blanc maisons and the Bvlgari hotels activities. This acquisition will significantly increase LVMH’s presence in the ultimate hospitality world.”

The group behind major luxury brands Louis Vuitton, Christian Dior, and Moët & Chandon champagne has agreed to purchase the world-renowned Belmond hotel chain for a massive $3.2bn. The Executive Magazine catches up with Bernard Arnault, chairman and CEO of LVMH.

The Importance Of Health & Wellbeing For Executives

Health and wellbeing coach

Daniel Steven, CEO of DSPT, writes for The Executive Magazine on diet and intermittent fasting and it’s benefits for executives in the workplace.

DDaniel Steven is a health and wellbeing coach who has helped hundreds of executives improve their quality of life both in and out of the office through his bespoke online coaching programs.

When you want to ensure your health and wellbeing is optimal, and to perform at your best, it’s important to consider your diet, levels of exercise, sleep, stress levels and overall mental health. They all affect each other and can, if done right, support one another.

DietisthefirstplaceIstartwithanewclient.Itcanbeconfusingfiguring out which one of the myriad of diets might work best for you. Whether you want to lose some extra weight that’s crept on over the years of client lunches or improve energy levels at work to rid yourself of those mid-afternoonslumpsandrelianceoncaffeine,mostpeopledon’thave the time or mental energy to implement and follow a strict diet.

In my experience working with Executives as a health and wellbeing coach, for many trying to stick to some of the more popular diets such as Paleo, Atkins, Zone or Ketogenic, they’re simply too restrictive. Try

having a client dinner at a fine restaurant and sticking to those diets. It’s anything but practical.

Most of the diets I mentioned require some level of meal preparation. However, if you’re time poor then you won’t have time to meal prep and even if you did, your schedule is so fluid that chances are you’ll be pulled from pillar to post and not be able to eat those prepared meals. The best diet is one that has minimum impact on your life and that you can adhere to over the long term. Adherence is what creates results.

For those reasons my clients have had great results with Intermittent Fasting. There are multiple versions but the least disruptive, and easiest to switch to, is the 16/8. 16/8 refers to sixteen hours of fasting (absolutely no calories) followed by eight hours in which you can eat and drink normally. You should make healthy changes to what you eat and drink at the same time but that’s separate to how Intermittent Fasting works.

The idea of fasting to many sounds like torture but we all do it already. Between when we stop eating at night and when we start eating the next day we’ve been fasting. All we’re looking to do is to extend the time spent in a fasted state.

During the 16 hours you’re allowed water, black coffee, black or

herbal teas but no sugar or sweeteners or calories of any kind. Once your fasting period is over you can resume eating and drinking as normal. For example, if you had dinner at 20.00 you’d need to avoid calories until 12.00 the next day but could have water and black coffee. Coffee acts a hunger suppressant, so it can help you get through the mornings.

For most of my clients they find themselves skipping breakfast and only eating lunch and dinner with a snack or protein shake in between meals. This helps go a long way to creating a calorie deficit which is essential if you want to lose weight/fat.

Extending the fasting hours from sixteen to eighteen, or even twenty hours, is quite common. As long as you then eat enough of a balanced diet during your non-fasted state it’s fine. However, reducing the hours spent fasting is not ideal. The minimum should be sixteen.

Like with any form of diet, intermittent fasting and the 16/8 rule won’t be for everyone. It’s not meant to be. No diet is. However, in my experience, it’s the easiest dietary style to adhere to and as I said before, adherence is the key to getting results. Another upside is that it’s sustainable in the long term. It becomes a habit after a few months of adhering to it and it’s flexible too. I dare say most of my client’s end up enjoying intermittent fasting.

The benefits of intermittent fasting:

Reduced

-Blood lipids

-Blood pressure

-Markers of inflammation

-Oxidative stress

-Risk of cancer

Increased

-Cellular turnover and repair

-Fat burning

- Growth hormone release later in the fast

-Metabolic rate later in the fast

Improved

-Appetite control

-Blood sugar control

-Cardiovascular function

-Effectiveness of chemotherapy

-Neurogenesis and neuronal plasticity

TheIvy Manchester

SSpread across four floors, the brand new Ivy Collection restaurant occupies a purpose built exposed timber frame structure in the heart of Manchester city centre. Located in Spinningfields, The Ivy comprises of a ground floor brasserie, first floor private dining room, an opulent Asian bar and restaurant on the third floor, and a sumptuous Roof Garden featuring fire pits and foliage on the top floor, with views of the city and a fully retractable roof for the summer season.

The official VIP launch party saw a host of celebrity guests, including sports stars, business moguls and TV personalities, along with Richard Caring, the group owner, making an appearance. The glamorous evening showcased the new venue in spectacular fashion, and has been well received by the press and critics alike after soft launch taster sessions earlier in the week. With reservations already fully booked for the next 6 months, Manchesters largest restaurant with over 530 covers is also set to be the busiest.

In keeping with the theme, the red carpet was substituted for a green grass walkway, and live performers adorned in ivy welcomed the VIP guests. The paparazzi was out in full force to capture the arrivals of special appearances, and a live band creating an exciting atmosphere for everyone to enjoy.

We spoke with the General Manager Kate Cooper, who tells us “we’re confident that The Ivy Spinningfields will add to Manchester’s already

Revered restaurant group The Ivy has launched a brand new brasserie and dining experience in Spinningfields, Manchester. The Executive Magazine went along to the exclusive launch party to check it out.

impressive dining scene. We’re all very excited to welcome both those living and working in Manchester, as well as those travelling from further afield.”

The Brasserie offers an all day dining experience, including classic breakfasts like eggs royale, afternoon tea, and an evening a la carte menu with featuring lobster, steak and a monkfish and prawn curry. The theme of rich indulgence and retro luxury is prevalent, with every last detail considered from a marble topped bar to the nappa leather quilted seating.

Venture upstairs into the opulently decorated Asia suite which has been tastefully adorned with authentic antique Japanese ninja armour, art-deco style Geisha artwork, and sumptuous materials, along with precious gem stone flooring. Here you will find an infusion of Asian flavours, including black cod with miso, Thai sea bass with coriander, lime and chilli, and asparagus with white wafu dressing and black sesame.

As well as a spectacular array of fine food, a tasty cocktail menu has been created especially for the Manchester venue, with an array of modern classics with a unique Ivy twist. A finely curated wine list includes Louis Roderer Cristal 2009 champagne.

You’ll need to book your visit in advance, as the highly anticipated dining experience is going to be a firm favourite on the Manchester fine dining scene.

The Executive Explorer Orlando

The Executive Explorer has been travelling around America’s East Coast, and discovered that there’s so much more to Orlando than theme parks and Disney World. We travelled around the vibrant and modern city sampling some of the best hotels, restaurants and nightlife to bring you our exclusive guide.

Where to stay

The

Ritz-Carlton

Possibly the most recognisable brand in this months guide, the Ritz-Carlton name is symbol of luxury and opulence, and the Orlando resort in Grande Lakes not only lives up to the groups reputation, but exceeds it in stunning fashion.

Located within it’s own vast grounds, surrounded by beautiful lakes and an 18-hole Greg Norman-signature golf course, the spa hotel takes inspiration from the grand palazzos of Italy. With over 600 rooms including two Presidential Suites and one Royal Suite, the Ritz-Carlton is centrally located close to the Downtown area and all of the surrounding conference centres.

The standard rooms are luxurious, modern and obsessively clean, and the larger suites are really something special. For the full Ritz experience, we recommend upgrading to the Club Level, which gives you access to the exclusive Club Lounge and extra amenities like the media room, kids programmes and even a complimentary garment pressing service.

This is a very popular hotel, and will be fully booked if there’s a big conference in town, so be sure to check early if you plan to stay.

www.ritzcarlton.com/en/hotels/florida/orlando

Rosen Shingle Creek

Rosen is a big name in the hospitality industry in Orlando, with a portfolio of hotels ranging from motels to the luxury 5 star Shingle Creek resort. Located on Universal Boulevard, the spa and golf retreat is perfectly positioned for easy access to the conference centres, Downtown district and the Florida Turnpike.

Featuring a grand entrance hall and an enviable array of pools and outdoor lounging areas, the Rose Shingle Creek sits on a large estate with a plethora of both casual and fine-dining restaurants and bars.

The rooms are spacious and well appointed, and if you ask for a poolside view the friendly staff will do their best to accommodate your request – which is well worth it if the space is available. Customer service is the main draw for the Rosen Shingle Creek, and cater for any special requests without hesitation – it’s like having your own private concierge service.

www.rosenshinglecreek.com

Orlando is a fabulous city, famed for it’s roller coasters, tourist attractions and Mickey Mouse, but behind Universal Studios and SeaWorld is a sophisticated, upmarket and fascinating scene catering for the discerning executive.

Where to dine

Slate

Slate is an unassuming chef-driven fine-dining meets casual eatery and bar. The restaurant is well hidden, set back away from the main road, and even the website doesn’t give much away. But when you walk through the doors, you’re greeted with a rustic yet modern setting, with an open kitchen and island bar. If you like exposed brick and open fires, you’ll love Slate.

As an independent establishment, Executive Chef Jacob Woolf has been given carte blanche to create some very special dishes for his ‘modern American with a twist’ menu. Featuring wood grilled specials and exceptionally fresh seafood paired with a boutique wine list curated by sommelier Leslie Johnson.

For starters we recommend the lobster “corn dogs” – a light and modern take on a classic dish which comes with a refreshing truffle honey mustard and parsley sauce. The lobster is pre-grilled then finished off in the fryer with a light and crunch batter.

Best known for their wood fired grill and ovens, the main courses are varied and with such a generous selection it’s hard to choose, so we went for our waiters recommendations. With the brisket as somewhat of a speciality item from the head chef, with a preparation process taking days, the juicy beef falls apart and tastes incredible.

We also tried the locally sourced snapper fish, which is hearth roasted to perfection. It’s light and fluffy, similar to cod but less flakey and more flavoursome, and accompanied by zucchini noodles, lemongrass, rosemary bread crumbs. It’s complemented by a special aioli-like sauce, with the blend of 10 ingredients ingredients kept a closely guarded secret.

www.slateorlando.com

Norman’s

Located within the Ritz-Carlton, Norman’s is a fine dining experience like no other in Orlando, perhaps even in the entire state of Florida. Headed up by Award Winning Chef Norman Van Aken, the namesake eatery is internationally acclaimed for its new world cuisine. Fusing Latin, Caribbean, Asian, African and American flavours to create Norman’s signature style really sets the Normn’s apart,

The restaurant sits in an elegant yet modern setting, with sumptuous decor and a very relaxed atmosphere. The space is large, and the tables are set apart enough provide a peaceful and private dining experience. There are also separate rooms for larger parties and private dining events.

As you’d expect from the ultra sophisticated restaurant, the menu is something quite special. This is immediately evident from the Russian Caviar, served with Lemon Crema, Toasted Brioche, and a shot of Beluga Vodka. Sourced from the rare Ossetra sturgeon, it has a rich, deep flavour, smooth texture and is very light, and has a pleasant salty aftertaste.

Everything from the scallop starters to the Wagyu steak main and the artistic deserts, are all cooked and presented to absolute perfection. Norman’s impeccable level of almost obsessive detail ads to the unique experience.

www.normans.com

Where to entertain

One80 Skytop Lounge

This premium, high-end bar hosts VIP evenings almost every night, and sits aloft the city’s Amway Centre, providing stunning skyline views from the large outdoor terrace, and an opulent bar inside. Stylish dress is required before you can even step through the door, and table packages are available. Monday night is industry night, with Orlando’s biggest movers and shakers in attendance along with drinks offers and special guest DJs.

www.180downtown.com

Mathers

For a more sophisticated evening, Mathers Social Gathering is a unique antique-filled, parlor-style cocktail lounge with boutique spirits. A truly unique and sophisticated space that encourages interaction and relaxation with comfortable seating, social tables and decor that will spark all kinds of conversation. With the entrance to the bar hidden behind a bookshelf in the reception area, this really is a hidden gem in the downtown area or Orlando, and easy to miss…

www.mathersorlando.com

Luxury Wings Over China

Travel company Abercrombie & Kent has launched an innovative new luxury travel package taking holidaymakers through iconic cities in China.

TThe package, named ‘Wings Over China’, allows guests to travel through the historic country in partnership with industry-leading chain The Peninsula Hotels.

With no more than 18 guests, this journey offers exclusive experiences only possible for an intimate group— giving travellers more time to explore alongside their tour director, and relax in luxurious five-star accommodations.

New in the package is a ‘Design Your Day’ experience: this innovatively-curated journey includes a mix of planned group activities, such as a chef’s table experience featuring a culinary demonstration, with time left unscheduled to allow guests to

experience the local area on their own.

Other experiences include a the option to personalise the holiday, with the chance to walk through Shanghai’s historic Jewish Quarter, or even just indulge the body and mind with a holistic wellness treatment at The Peninsula Shanghai’s spa.

“By linking each stop on our Wings Over China featuring The Peninsula Hotels itinerary with privately-chartered flights, we save many hours of travel time for a more immersive experience,” explains Abercrombie & Kent Vice President, Product Operations Stefanie Schmudde.

“This also allows our guests more time to enjoy the world-renowned hospitality of The Peninsula Hotels, including ‘Pen Moments’ designed to reveal the character of each city.”

Abercrombie & Kent’s Wings Over China starts from $34,995 per person, double occupancy.

Luxury Costa Rican Four Seasons Resort Sees Glamorous Relaunch

Four Seasons Resort Costa Rica at Peninsula Papagayo, a five-star resort located on the north Pacific coast of Costa Rica, has announced the debut of new and reimagined spaces and amenities to build on the resort’s $35m renovation from December last year.

EEnhancements include the opening of a new signature Latin steakhouse, a re-imagined spa that offers a serene wellness experience on arrival, and a beautiful new private concierge lounge to assist guests in planning their next excursion, amongst other exciting new improvements to the Central American resort.

General manager Michael Mestraud said the resort is “continuing to raise the bar” on luxury guest experience, and these new and refreshed spaces and amenities allow Four Seasons to do that.

“Our team has taken great pride in curating these new features and we think guests from around the world will appreciate our enhanced resort experience, from an upscale dining steakhouse to the destination spa,” he added.

One of the highlights from the collection of enhancements by the

Meyer Davis design firm is the new Nemare Restaurant. Due to open on 20 November 2018, the steakhouse will offer a sophisticated and creative culinary experience at the newly re-imagined Peninsula Papagayo golf clubhouse, which overlooks the Arnold Palmer Signature course.

Nemare will set a memorable dining scene with striking design from international design studio Denton House that pairs rustic and geometric shapes with rich materials including teak, leather and stone to offer a modern, cosmopolitan take on Costa Rican design traditions.

Other key new improvements include the revamped spa: the new improvements will guests to experience a soothing, serene experience that includes a neutral colour palette and rich natural textures such as wood and stone to extend tranquillity across key spaces in the facility.

New enhancements to the spa include: pre-treatment relaxation lounge and post-treatment indoor cabanas; elevated men’s and women’s locker rooms with new steam rooms, private showers and an outdoor terrace with hot and cool hydrotherapy pools; 18 spa treatment rooms with features including waterfall showers, whirlpool tubs and ocean views; a special hammam room for unique Turkish

bath experiences; and new Ayurvedic and sound healing spa treatments including a twohour Traditional Hammam Ritual.

Amongst a host of other new benefits are a revitalised fitness and wellness centre, offering state-of-the-art equipment whilst surrounded by the tropical landscape; the new private concierge lounge that will assist guests in choosing from more than 25 ‘only-here’ ocean, land, sky and cultural adventures at the resort; and a brandnew breakfast buffet and JUGOS juice bar at Bahia restaurant.

In addition to these Four Seasons Resort Costa Rica enhancements, the sesort will complete construction of a brand-new collection of oceanfront residences – Four Seasons Private Residences Prieta Bay – in early 2020. First announced in December 2017 as part of Peninsula Papagayo’s more than $100m community-wide transformation, this exclusive enclave of 20 wholly-owned, custom eco-luxury three, four and five bedroom villas sit on 17 acres (7 hectares) of prime oceanfront real estate adjacent to Four Seasons Resort Costa Rica.

The Top Gifts Executive

The Executive gives you its top picks for your loved ones

Creed Aventus Men’s Aftershave

The gold standard for men’s fragrance.

Launched in 2010 to celebrate Creed’s 250th anniversary, Aventus opens up with notes of blackcurrant and Italian bergamot blended with Calville Blanc apples and sparkling pineapple.

It’s woody centre is complemented with notes of roses, Jasmine blossom and patchouli, with a rich base of oak moss, ambergris and a touch of vanilla.

You will not regret this one when your loved one opens it on Christmas Day.

Creed, £250 (100ml)

Hummingbird Electric Bike

Ride to the office comfortably and actively with the Electric Hummingbird city bike.

The lightest electric folding bike in the world, this two-wheeler is powered by an all in one system that seamlessly powers your commute with its 250W motor and built in battery.

With the help of the Bitride App you can also customise the settings and monitor your speed and battery time. And, you can add your own flair to the bike with options to customise the main frame.

Hummingbird, £4,495

Smeg X Dolce & Gabbana 2-Slot Toaster

Don’t start off your New Year burnt out— gift this stunning Dolce & Gabbana toaster collaboration with industry-leading electrical company Smeg.

Hosting a removable stainless steel crumb tray, with six toasting levels and four different settings, the unusual collaboration between the fashion giant and Smeg is encapsulated in the gorgeous decorative print wrapped around the body, giving your kitchen a fiery and homely feel during cold winter’s mornings.

Harrods, £499.95

The Perfumer’s Wardrobe by Loris London

Famed luxury perfumer Loris London has released an ultimate highend fragrance gift set for this festive season, inspired by unique and memorable experiences from people and events all over the world.

Presented in an elegant blue and gold presentation book, these nine unisex oils and essences have been selected and developed by the Floris in-house perfumer to express a story behind each creation.

The miniature perfume set collection includes: A Rose For…, 1927, Honey Oud, Leather Oud, 71/72, Jermyn Street, Bergamotto di Positano, Sirena and 1976 Eau de Parfum.

Loris London, £200

Penderyn Rich Oak Single Cask Malt Welsh Whisky

Treat your special other on Christmas Day with this fruity, spicy Welsh whisky sourced from a single cask.

Taken from cask D161, beautiful flavours include cinnamon toffee, tropical fruit, orange, and vanilla, and then finished off with a spicy finish to keep you warm on a frosty winter’s night.

There are just 289 bottles of this cask-strength single malt available, so be sure to order yours soon.

The Whisky Exchange, £255

W

With a design led by form over function, taking inspiration from aerodynamic principals and futuristic retro automotive shapes, the brand new MB&F No9 ‘flow’ looks like a mechanical piece of art. Taking cues from 1950’s aeronautical styles and retro representations of a futuristic utopia, the time piece is like nothing we’ve ever seen before.

MB&F are globally renowned for their audacious designs, and the HM9 is no exception, with its trademark unconventional form, transgressive case shapes, and artistic use of exotic materials. So pronounced are its curves, and acute are its angles, that new manufacturing standards and techniques needed to be developed to achieve its fascinating finish.

When you take a closer look at the watch, the level of detail is staggering, from the complex grade 5 titanium case enveloping the movements and complications, to the winding mechanism and the elongated domes of milled sapphire crystal. The dramatic geometry of HM9 is supported by the equally dramatic contrasts of finished surface, with machined titanium, polished lines and satin finished details.

The engine of the HM9 has been entirely built in house at MB&F as a result of three years of development, and features independent twin balance wheels that beat at their own independent cadences of 2.5Hz (18,000bph) on each flank. A planetary differential averages the output of both oscillating wheels to provide one stable reading of the time. The small and simple dial sits perpendicular to the mechanism, with the hands driven by conical gears which ensure precise engagement, even when motion is put through a 90° planar translation. All of which results in the most accurate time keeping possible.

HM9 makes it’s debut with two titanium editions, limited to 33 pieces each: – The ‘Air’ edition comes with a dark movement and aviatorstyle dial; – The ‘Road’ edition has a rose gold plated movement and a classic speedometer-style dial.

Measuring 57mm x 47mm x 23mm on the wrist, this is a large time piece by any standard, and certainly makes for a dramatic statement. The strap is hand-stitched brown calf-leather with a custom-designed titanium folding buckle.

IIn true Hublot style, the launch party for the brand new limited edition time piece was nothing short of spectacular. Hosted by OSL, the rooftop event captivated guests with interactive technology and demonstrations of Hublot’s Bitcoin payment facility.

Available for purchase exclusively online through Bitcoins, this interesting timepiece will feature the transaction number engraved on the edge of the bezel, making each piece completely unique.

With innovative design that’s become customary with the Big Bang collection, the P2P watch has a 45mm case made from microblasted black ceramic. The ceramic is a high-tech material of zirconium dioxide pressed at an ultrahigh temperature.

The exterior houses a HUB1201 manufacture calibre, a skeleton movement that offers an exceptional 10-day power reserve; chosen to mark the number of years that Bitcoin has existed.

The Big Bang Meca-10 P2P is a limited edition of 210 timepieces, a reference to the global

limit of Bitcoins, which is fixed at 21 million.

Another reference to cryptocurrency can be found in the Blockchain inspired design: the interconnection network of computers on which virtual money works; and on the blue calfskin leather strap which is lined with black rubber.

“This is the kind of dynamism and innovation that our partners in Asia delight in,” said Ricardo Guadalupe, CEO of Hublot.

He added: “It is a visionary approach that fully corresponds to Hublot’s vision.”

Bitcoin was created only just ten years ago in November 2008. This famous cryptocurrency, a virtual asset stored in digital form, was invented by Satoshi Nakamoto, a name used by the mysterious person –or persons – whose identity remains a mystery to this day. In any case, the peerto-peer (P2P) payment system has attracted a large following of users and investors accepting payment for their transactions.

The new timepiece will be sold exclusively via e-commerce and can only be ordered and paid for online. This makes Hublot the first big watchmaking brand to enter this sector.

The Executive Magazine met with Hublot CEO Ricardo Guadalupe at the Hong Kong launch party to take a look at the limited edition Big Bang Meca-10 P2P watch.

The Executive Profiles: Franck Dubarry Watches

One of the fastest rising watchmakers in the industry, Franck Dubarry, is poised for a big year with its newest release of the Diver collection. The Executive finds out more.

OOne of the most innovative brands on the market, Franck Dubarry aspires to develop both sportive and elegant watches for the hyperactives and the mavericks— much like the timepiece’s founder, Franck Dubarry.

Dubarry, owner and chief executive of TechnoMarine between 1997 and 2007, has created more than 1000 models and styles of watches since entering the market in 2015— with an ethos of making the complicated simple.

A French entrepreneur, designer, and watchmaker, Franck Dubarry’s inspiration comes from his travels around the world, Argentinian culture, Polo, and martial arts that he regularly practices.

The Dubarry brand aspires to develop a luxury watch brand, gambling on being definitively different in an industry based on very traditional styles and morals. The watches are a result of Dubarry’s own life experiences and travels, resulting in collections that embody pure design free from conventions.

Thelatestcollection—Diver—doesjustthat.PresentedatBaselworld 2018, this new collection combines functionality and high technology materials such as Neoralithe (a translucent epoxy resin, resistant to

UV and shocks), and unique craftsmanship throughout.

Watches from the Diver collection perfectly illustrate the hyperactive watch concept to reinvent the traditional codes of the diving watch, and translate the distinctive qualities of Franck Dubarry watches.

Dubarry unveiled his first collection in 2015: named Crazy Balls, this revolutionary patented complication is a dial with 12 spheres colliding with each other with movement of the wrist.

Following the debut, the company made strides forward with the Fileteado GMT; in 2016, Franck Dubarry was inspired by street art brought over by Italian immigrants arriving in Argentina in the 1920s in areas such as the Porteno districts, influencing art trends Art Nouveau and Calavera. The 43mm is made of titanium or rose gold, with deep engravings inspired by Fileteado.

Last year, Dubarry debuted the Crazy Wheel: taking a step into High Horology, this amazing timepiece is a unique creation developed with Dominique Renaud and produced in-house.

What’s most interesting about the innovative timepiece is a 360° module displaying the hour disc on a minute bridge, giving the multilevel dial its ‘crazy’ movement.

Franck Dubarry is due to make major waves in the watch industry in 2019, showcasing a different way to tell the time. Stay tuned to The Executive for more updates on the brand in the future.

&Aston Martin Tag Heuer

TAG Heuer & Aston Martin have celebrated the announcement of their partnership in style with the global release of a limited edition timepiece.

After announcing the collaboration between the two iconic brands at the Geneva Motor Show earlier this year, top creative talents at the two companies have worked together to create a timepiece that expresses the brands’ shared values of performance, precision, and craftsmanship.

The TAG Heuer Carrera Calibre Heure 01 Aston Martin Special Edition is the second watch of the partnership: the lower-priced TAG Heuer Formula1AstonMartinSpecialEditiontimepiecewasalsoannounced at the motor show in Switzerland on 6-8 March.

Inspired by the geometric shapes of an Aston Martin sports car, the new watch draws a direct vision of its colours, shapes, patterns, and materials from an Aston Martin.

The stunning 45mm solid steel case boasts a ceramic black brushed tachymeter bezel with Aston Martin engraving. The manufacture movement is visible through the dial, which is skeletonised in a

hexagonal pattern that pays homage to the details on the breathtaking new Vantage.

Exclusive to this luxury timepiece is the reshaped lugs, which were inspired by the lines of Aston Martin’s world-renowned bodywork.

Aston Martin vice-president and chief creative officer, Marek Reichman, said: “This timepiece is a beautiful reflection of the design language of both Aston Martin and TAG Heuer.

“Each watch will provide its owner with a taste of the Aston Martin luxury lifestyle where there is attention paid to every detail. They will also enjoy the craftsmanship and build quality that is synonymous with the two brands.”

The TAG Heuer Carrera Calibre Heuer 01 Aston Martin Special Edition is available now from TAG Heuer retailers, in-store and online, at RRP £5,250.

Chief executives for Bugatti and Champagne Carbon

Stephan Winkelmann and Alexandre Mea shook hands this week after signing a new contract to officialise the partnership between the two brands. The testimony of the collaboration between the two, in time for the celebration of Bugatti’s 110th anniversary next year, is the visible-carbon-fibrecoated Bugatti Chiron and a bottle of the new champagne Carbon ‘ƎB.01’ in its carbon fibre wrap.

“Bugatti and Champagne Carbon are avant-gardists of their respective industry, translating their know-how achieved through a proud history into an innovative present and future. Striving for perfection is at the core of all our actions, leading us to constantly want to keep pushing our own boundaries,” Bugatti President Stephan Winkelmann explained.

He added: “We both operate and grow internationally successful businesses from our home, the French ‘Grand Est’ region, where our founding fathers once started their endeavours.”

The ‘ƎB.01’ consists of 90% Chardonnay and 10% Pinot Noir: the vintage of this exclusive champagne was a very bright one for the Grand Est. 2002 saw Bugatti working at full speed on its modern era revival at the hands of the Bugatti Veyron, while extraordinarily in Champagne, it had the perfect weather conditions for good ripeness and flavour concentration.

The creation of a unique and high-quality Champagne Cuvée requires using grapes from the most prestigious terroirs of Champagne. This particular vintage was released from the Carbon vinotheque at the optimum maturity.

“We are thrilled to have the chance to begin an adventure with Bugatti. At the crossroad of tradition and modernity, excellence and technology, Bugatti never makes compromises. We feel the same about our Champagne”, Alexandre Mea, CEO of Champagne Carbon said.

“Our constant pursuit of perfection and relentless desire to innovate has naturally led us to a powerful brand like Bugatti: breaking the conventions and remaining one of the top luxury brands in the world.”

Bugatti &Champagne Carbon

GT

TThe brand-new 2018 Bentley Continental GT is faster, more powerful, more luxurious and loaded with more tech than ever before – and just like its predecessor, it handles everything with an understated gracefulness that makes for a truly unique driving experience.

If you want to be bathed in complete luxury and enveloped in sumptuous leather, you go for a Rolls Royce. If you want speed and racing heritage, you go for a McLaren. If you want a bit of both, you go for a Bentley: and the new GT is everything you would expect and so much more.

Bentley aficionados will be familiar with the slightly raised driving position and silkysmooth air cushioned ride paired with an almighty 6.0l W12 power plant. But now with new components and ancillaries, the twin-turbo 12-cylinder engine is more refined and more powerful. With a host of new technology, including a direct-injection system, the car generates 626bhp – not a huge step up from its forbearer, but the really impressive part is the way it pulls. Producing 664lb ft torque from just 1350rpm, this 2.2-tonne heavyweight accelerates like an Aston Martin DB11. It’s that good.

This time, the British manufacturer decided to drop the previous torque-converter unit and paired the engine with an allnew, smooth eight-speed PDK gearbox, linked with a more sporty ZF dual-clutch, all set on a Porsche Panamera chassis. There are more components borrowed from Porsche, including the wishbone setup. The power distribution has also been tweaked to give more balance to the all-wheel drive system by transferring more of the power to the rear wheels.

Bentley’s aim was to produce the best grand tourer ever made. And taking inspiration from the 1952 Continental Type-R, it has achieved the impossible: creating a cheaper car than the historical masterpieces equivalent. It was sold in the 50s for £7,500, which in today’s money equates to about £210,000 – and the 2018 comes in at very reasonable £159,100.

This car was built for touring, and it’s most at home on the motorway. It’s quite possibly the smoothest ride you will ever experience: the super high-tech, algorithmically-controlled air suspension irons out every single imperfection in the road – no matter how big or small – and makes you feel like you’re effortlessly gliding over the road, whilst still instilling confidence in the driver that they are in complete control.

The huge amount of torque is instantly accessible at any speed, in any gear, and the intuitive gearbox will seamlessly change down when you put your foot down, giving you mind-blowing acceleration from the incredibly responsive engine. The raw power propels the car forward – and you into the back of the butter-soft Nappa leather seats – with unparalleled force.

The supremely luxurious interior is awash with technology, gadgetry and enough buttons to keep even the most focused driver distracted, with an array of massage settings to keep you relaxed on a long cruise. Every detail has been considered, and our favourite feature is the way the graphics on the centre console digitally continue the lines of the dashboard and anthropometrically designed buttons – it’s these small things that make a huge difference. The sound system has been given some serious attention: the collaboration with Bang & Olufsen means the 16 speakers powered by a touchscreen equaliser produce the best sound quality you could imagine.

This is by no means a track-bred race car, but the sports mode stiffens up the suspension, hunkers down the ride height and increases the throttle response (like it needs it!), and overall provides a great driving experience with a throatier engine note. But the GT is much more at home cruising across the continent, soaking up the miles and helping you arrive anywhere in ultimate style.

AllElectric Porsche Gets Green Light

TThe road-ready concept study Mission E Cross Turismo, which wowed delegates at the Geneva Motor Show in March, will create an additional 300 jobs at its headquarters in the Stuttgart factory, after the Supervisory Board of Porsche AG confirmed production at the facility on Thursday.

Porsche’s first ever purely electric vehicle will reach 60mph within a mere 3.5 seconds, and will reach 125mph within 12 seconds. The four-door Cross Turismo has an 800-volt architecture and is prepared for connection to the fast charging network.

The stunning electric vehicle has a system output of 600hp and a range of 500km, with 400km being charged within just 15 minutes.

On the interior, the user interface concept is optimally tailored to the driver’s demands, enabling intuitive, fast, and distraction-free interaction. The interface

Porsche’s first purely electric sports wagon has been given the go-ahead to begin production following a meeting at the manufacturer’s major factory in Zuffenhausen, Germany.

consists of a curved driver’s display, hosting an integrated extra-wide touchscreen and a 3D touch control panel in the centre console.

This futuristic, driver-oriented interior design gives drivers an insight into a new innovative digital world; the all-electric drive concept allowing an entirely new interpretation of the principles of openness, purism, clear architecture, driverorientation and everyday drivability.

The result of this concept is a new interpretation of driving comfort and efficiency The absence of a transmission tunnel open up cabin space and impart a lighter, more generously proportioned ambient feeling.

The interior design also features anodised surfaces and ambient lighting, and the door panels impress with 3D elements, and the ingenious air-conditioning vents function entirely without slats.

On the exterior, Porsche is exploring the limits of high-performance e-friendly driving: the Mission E has compact electric motors, an underbody battery, no exhaust system, no combustion engine, and no transmission tunnel.

Consequently, the result is a flow-optimised body with an extremely flat bonnet section— a homage to the iconic Porsche 911.

Porsche’s e-friendly concept does not stop there, either. The German manufacturer is breaking barriers in terms of continuous power and reproducibility— through a PSM (Permanently Excited Synchronous Machines) high-performance drive, a high level of output and consistency is evident on both the front and the rear axel, creating an on-demand E-all-wheel drive and optimum traction and comfort on any terrain.

ThevehicleisaderivativeoftheelectricsaloonPorscheTaycan,andwillbelaunched on the market in 2019. The move comes as part of Porsche’s plans to invest more than €6bn in electromobility by 2026