The National Commercial Bank (NCB) recently participated in a “career day” organized for Saudi students who graduated from American University in Lebanon. Saud Sabban, head of human resources division at the NCB, said the bank’s initiative to support nationalization of jobs and provide employment opportunities for Saudi graduates was not confined to the Kingdom’s universities but extended to those from overseas universities as well. Najeeb Abdulrahman, head of staffing and manpower planning at the NCB, pointed out that the bank’s continuous efforts in the area of qualifying Saudi youth and training, and providing assistance in their employment were part of the bank’s social responsibility and role to promote employment, nationalization strategy, qualification and development of human resources. The bank also took part in the exhibition organized alongside the event.
ALJ ELECTRONICS
ALJ Electronics was recently honored by White-Westinghouse and Philco for their outstanding sales performance in 2006 and for their special commitment to the White-Westinghouse and Philco brands and consumers in Saudi Arabia. At the annual White-Westinghouse and Philco New Products and Opportunities meeting in Orlando, USA, ALJ Electronics received a coveted ‘Million dollar club award.’ The award recognizes top distributors who have purchased and sold in excess of $1 million worth of White-Westinghouse and Philco household appliances last year. Accepting the award on behalf of ALJ Electronics were P. Venkat and Gokul Praveen. The award was presented by Matt Young, EVP and GM, Electrolux/White-Westinghouse/Philco International Co., Mario Lanna, V P sales, and Gregg Sklar, business development manager for the region.
SAMACO/VW
Saudi Arabian Marketing and Agencies Co. Ltd. (Samaco) on Tuesday announced a new investment for providing a set of special service programs for Volkswagen (VW) car owners. The company, under the leadership of Mohammad Sharbatly, which has originally invested SR300 million in its customer service programs, is now providing additional SR50 million to develop its VW customer service in the Kingdom. This is part of Mohammad Sharbatly’s plan to become the biggest European automotive agent by 2010,” Fathi Al-Fadi Allam, regional sales manager, Volkswagen Middle East, told a press conference at the Samaco showroom, the exclusive agent for VW in the Kingdom. It introduced new programs that will provide the “highest level” of service to the VW owners along with technical support needed 24 hours a day throughout the Kingdom. According to Mohammad Sharbatly, the four new programs will be available on the newly launched 2008 model Volkswagens. These will give the VW owners the chance to enjoy services “that were not available in the Saudi market before.”
FORD
Ford Middle East concluded the regional leg of the 2007 Global Service Advisor and Technician Skills Service Excellence World Cup with representatives from Al-Tayer Motors (UAE), Arabian Car Marketing (Oman) and Al-Jazirah Vehicles Agencies (KSA) qualifying to join the final competition in the US. Al-Tayer Motor’s service advisor Noel Christian Faustino was declared winner with Arachali Thiruinban Annadurai of Arabian Car Marketing as runner up. Sunil Montiero from Al-Tayer Motors and Jefferson Mallari Dimacali of Al-Jazirah Vehicles Agencies tied for the first place in the Technicians category. All winners will go to Dearborn, Michigan to compete with representatives from five regions around the globe for the coveted prizes and titles. “Our congratulations to the Middle East finalists for showing the best skills in providing informed service to our customers,” Waldo Galan, Ford ME’s managing director, said.
DHL
DHL recently clinched victory in the Great Package Race for 2007, an annual challenge testing the largest global shipping and logistics companies to deliver packages to some of the world’s most far-flung locations. Involving DHL, FedEx and UPS, the race is a yearly exercise organized by a professor and students at Georgia Institute of Technology’s Stewart School of Industrial and Systems Engineering. It tests the performance of the world’s biggest package delivery companies to deliver shipments to remote or politically restive corners of the globe. Phil Couchman, area director for DHL Middle East, said: “Our global leader and commitment to speed and excellence in customer service were clearly demonstrated in this global challenge.”