Trophées du Club de l'Eco Monaco : Six remarkable entrepreneurs recognised
The 5th edition of the Monaco Eco Club Awards, organised by the Monaco Economic Board (MEB) in partnership with the Nice-Matin Group took place on Wednesday 30 November at the Grimaldi Forum. It was attended by Minister of State, HE Mr Serge Telle representing HSH Prince Albert II, and 350 personalities and players from the Monegasque business community.
Six remarkable entrepreneurs based in the Principality were presented with awards in a ceremony that highlighted the diversity and excellence of those driving Monaco’s economy.
In his introduction, MEB Chairman Michel Dotta praised the success of companies “who have chosen Monaco because it is a wonderful place to live and work, and is a land of entrepreneurs.”
SPECIAL JURY PRIZE
Thierry and Daniela BOUTSEN
BOUTSEN AVIATION
Award presented by Christophe PINAULT (Board Member, Caisse d’Epargne Côte d’Azur) and Michel PROST-DUMONT (Corporate Director, Banque Populaire Méditerranée – Monaco Branch)
Founded in 1997 by former Formula 1 driver Thierry Boutsen, the company specialises in buying and selling corporate jets. Since it was set up, the company has sold nearly 350 aircraft thanks to a sales team exclusively made up of former pilots. Boutsen Aviation offers a wide range of services, including import-export, charters, commissioning, brokerage, representation and management of all civil aircraft for an international clientele. The company also does interior decoration and layout design for aircraft.
INNOVATION
Jean-Franck BUSSOTTI
SAFAS
Award presented by Corinne PIRINOLI (HR and Communications Director at MONACO TELECOM) and Thierry GARDE (Managing Director SOCIETE GENERALE PRIVATE BANKING).
Founded by the parents of the current CEO in 1952, SAFAS specialises in the design, manufacture and marketing of high-tech scientific and medical equipment. Renowned for their reliability and robustness, the instruments are for a demanding clientele dealing with complex applications, such as nuclear, military and pharmaceuticals.
Last year in Paris, SAFAS also received an Innovation Award at the LABO & BIOTECH Forum, having been selected out of 76 nominations by a jury made up of journalists and scientists.
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
Salvatore DE LUCA
Nouvelle ERE
Award presented by Pierfranck PELACCHI (Marketing Manager at SMEG) and Olivier VINCENT (Regional Manager BPI France).
When it was founded in 2008, Nouvelle ERE specialised in the design, production and financing of photovoltaic power plants. Since 2012, the company has taken it another step further in developing Intelligent Home services for homeowners to control the production and storage of photovoltaic energy in an autonomous and eco-responsible manner. Since it was set up, Nouvelle ERE has installed some 100,000 photovoltaic panels throughout the world.
INTERNATIONAL
Mirco and Charles ALBISETTI
FRIMO
Award presented by HE Mr Jean PASTORELLI (Chairman of the Grimaldi Forum) and Axel HOPPENOT (Marketing Director of Monte-Carlo SBM).
Frimo is a food trading company, specialising in meat and fish. Set up in Monaco in 1977, Frimo was soon operating in several key regions, notably Africa, South America and Russia. Since 2014, the company has taken on a new challenge with its conquest of Asia, particularly Japan and China, countries where fish consumption is high and the market is buoyant. The success of this venture has increased Frimo’s annual export revenues to over €60 million.
MADE IN MONACO
BRUNO PARISET
CONTI
Award presented by Jean CASTELLINI, Minister of Finance and Economy.
Since 1956, Conti has been designing and manufacturing high-end espresso coffee machines for professionals. In 2010, the company was bought-out by its senior management with the help of the Government via SACDE (Société d'Aide à la Création et au Développement d'Entreprise). The transformation was such a success the Government was able to sell back its shares three years later. Today the company generates revenue topping €20 million, due mainly to its expansion abroad and technological innovations. Conti’s quest for excellence also led it to undertake important work on taste and smell with companies in the Grasse area.
MANAGER OF THE YEAR
Mikael KRAFFT
STAR CLIPPERS
Award presented by HE Mr Serge Telle, Minister of State.
Since 1991, Star Clippers has been offering travellers in search of authenticity an alternative to the mass-cruise experience on magnificent sailing ships inspired by 19th century clippers. The company was founded by Swedish entrepreneur Mikael Krafft, a man passionate about sailing and maritime history. It operates three of the world’s largest sailing ships, the four-mast schooners, Star Clipper and Star Flyer, and the majestic five-mast square rigger, Royal Clipper. A fourth ship, inspired by France 2, has been under construction for the last two years and will soon be complete to complement a unique and exceptional fleet. Mikael Krafft’s dream became a reality for thousands of satisfied passengers, as evidenced by Star Clippers’ 67% loyalty rate, the highest in the cruise industry.
Photo: HE Mr Serge Telle, Minister of State; MEB Chairman Michel Dotta; and Jean-Marc Pastorino, CEO of the Nice-Matin Group, with the 2016 winners of the Monaco Eco Club Awards. (Credit: Sylvain Lorio / Realis)