World - GAC

GAC WRAPsports offered many logistics opportunities,so the branding and business went handin-hand.As we have experienced throughour relationships with Formula One racingteams, we need to learn from their workethics:- the meticulous planning, carefulcoordination, clinical efficiency with nomargin for error, enthusiastic people, thebest possible equipment and the will toWIN. We must want to be the best tosucceed in our business.What are the most meaningful lessonsyou’ve learnt from your decades inbusiness?Honesty with colleagues, honesty withcustomers, honesty with suppliers. It’s notalways easy, but life is simpler if you onlyhave to remember the truth.You are heading GAC’s new CommercialUnit. What are your priorities? Whatchallenges do you foresee? What valuedo you think the Commercial team canbring to the rest of GAC?The priorities are to bring together ourSales, Marketing and IT capabilities. TheCommercial Team should be at the ‘sharpend’ of our business, cutting a smooth pathfor the operational and financial experts tomake their jobs easier. We must act as theradar.What must GAC do better to continueto build and grow?We must maintain our company valuesand, at the same time, create a successfulenvironment for our staff, customers andsuppliers.To what extent do you think GAC’sintegrated services have served theGroup and its customers?So far, we have done well, but we have muchmore to do and create in the future as weidentify more areas where we can integrateour service offerings to customers.In business, does size matter? And, ifso, why?Yes and no. Yes, as a certain volume ofbusiness does bring economies of scalewhich are necessary to be competitive.And no, as we can never believe that ‘onesize fits all’ – we are GAC and our cultureis to look after all our customers, big andsmall.What do you see on the horizon for theglobal Logistics industry?Infinite growth, as logistics expands toencompass all services up and down thesupply chain.Woolly hats forwinter sailorsAs the maritime world marks the Yearof the Seafarer, GAC is working withthe international maritime welfarecharity, the Sailors’ Society to deliver20,000 donated woolly hats to sailorsworldwide.The Sailors’ Society is part ofthe worldwide support network thatseeks to safeguard the welfare of sailors.Every year, the Society receives woollyhats knitted bycaring volunteers.This year, theywill be sent– free of charge– to seafarers atMoves &AppointmentsGAC DubaiMike CamaraCompany Sales ManagerPreviously:Sales & Customer Service Manager,Freight Service.GAC Norway - OsloCapt Bjørn KongslieMarine AdvisorPreviously:Master of many vessel typesincluding tankers, bulk carriers,support vessels and tugs.GAC Corporate Communications, SingaporeNikki TaylorCorporate CommunicationsManagerPreviously:Senior Communications Executive.Corporate Communications, HoustonMagen SingletonCommunications Executive,AmericasPreviously:Marketing Director for a localarchitecture firm.locations as far flung as Brazil and Russia,courtesy of GAC’s global distributionnetwork.Strategic support“Many GAC managers started their workinglives at sea, so we appreciate the essentialrole that sailors play in our industry andunderstand the challenges they face,” saysGAC Group President Lars Säfverström.“We have been supporting the Sailors’Society for some years, participating infundraising events and making Christmasdonations. Now, as we welcome the Yearof the Seafarer, this new partnership takesthat support a step further.”GAC JapanYuichi AdachiMarketing Manager, ShippingPreviously:Manager, Marine & Crane Division,ABB K.K. Japan.GAC QatarRavindu Rodrigo- Commercial Manager forLogistics & Shipping ServicesPreviously:Manager, Freight Services &Claims.Corporate Communications, DubaiSalman SiddiquiCommunications Executive, GACSolutionsPreviously:Assistant Manager for CorporateCommunications for a globallogistics firm in Pakistan.LOOKING FOR CONTACT DETAILS?Many GAC staff are listed in the directorysection of the GAC website: www.gacworld.comJust type in the surname of the person you arelooking for in the Name Search field in the“Directory” section of the site.JULY 2010 | GAC WORLD 19