Rosewood

Rosewood Hotels & Resorts has appointed Daniel Echasseriau as executive chef for Jeddah’s Rosewood Corniche. A French national, Chef Echasseriau has over 17 years of culinary art experience, including six as an executive chef. He will oversee the entire culinary direction for all the Rosewood Corniche’s food and beverage venues including Ginza I Chome, Noodles, Habsburg and Soleil, in addition to managing the hotel’s in-room dining and catering. Since beginning his culinary career in France, Chef Echasseriau has displayed his talents in some of the finest luxury resorts and hotels including three years at La Samanna Resort in St. Martin, Barbados, a member of the elite Orient-Express group of hotels. Echasseriau also furthered his gastronomic ability with a four-year residence at the four-diamond, Fairmont Royal Pavilion & Glitter Bay Hotel, in St. James, Barbados, among other acclaimed restaurants and renowned properties. Echasseriaus’ training and subsequent posts throughout the Caribbean and beyond have given him a wealth of experience across a vast array of cuisine including French, Polynesian and International. Hans-Peter Leitzke, MD, Rosewood Corniche says he is looking forward to adding Chef Echasseriaus’s cosmopolitan experience to the hotel’s culinary team. Leitzke said: “Each restaurant’s dedicated chef will work closely with Chef Echasseriau. As such, we are able to provide guests with a truly memorable dining experience.”
 
Zahid Group

Zahid Group Chairman Talal Y. Zahid was awarded the “Lifetime Achievement” award by Construction Week magazine in recognition of the company’s contribution to the growth and development of the Kingdom’s infrastructure. The ITP Group’s award committee considered many top companies for their vital work in Saudi Arabia’s construction industry. According to the magazine, after much consideration, Talal was selected as the overall winner of the award for this year. Talal joined his family’s company in 1967 after returning from America with a Bachelor Degree from Stanford University, immediately making his mark on several prominent projects, for the quickly expanding group. Following the death of his father Yousuf M. Zahid, Talal assumed the chairmanship of the board of directors, and continues to this day in collaboration with his brothers to steer the group’s direction and strategy. Under his leadership, the group grew exponentially. It was able to expand its presence in supplying the construction sector with world-class heavy equipment, and machinery and power generators. This was supplemented with financial services, truck-manufacturing facilities, and a cadre of capable and well-trained work force of Saudi and expatriate men and women, as well as those with special needs. The company was winner of the Best Work Environment Award in 2009. The group is paying particular attention to grooming the next generation of the Zahid family members.
 
Dar Al Tamleek

Specialist home finance company Dar Al Tamleek has launched three new Ijarah home financing programs that make home ownership a more realistic and affordable goal than ever before. Introduced in addition to Dar Al Tamleek’s regular Ijarah program, the new products include the Multi Family Investment Property Program and the Land Finance Program. “With a high rate of population growth and an estimated 70 percent of Saudi nationals under the age of 30, the demand for residential accommodation is forecast to reach more than 1.3 million units over the next seven years,” said Yasser Abu Ateek, MD, Dar Al Tamleek. “In the context of the Kingdom’s strong and thriving economy more and more people aspire to home ownership and Dar Al Tamleek has created these innovative new programs to enable a much wider segment of the population to buy instead of rent.” Both programs are open to Saudi and GCC citizens 20 years of age or older earning SR5,000+ per month from salary or business income. Financing is available from SR150,000 to SR5,000,000 over terms ranging from 5 to 25 years. In addition, Dar Al Tamleek has introduced the Expatriate Home Ownership Program to bring the benefits of home ownership to Non-Saudi residents who wish to purchase a primary residence in the Kingdom. The program is open to Non-Saudi or Non-GGC citizens with proof of residency for five years or longer and in a professional, managerial or highly skilled position earning SR12,000 + per month.
 
Bridgestone

Bridgestone Middle East & Africa FZE has announced details of its “Tyre Safety and Eco Station” campaign, which urges the drivers to check their tire pressure and tread in a bid to enhance driver safety and reduce the incidence of road traffic accidents. The campaign, which will tour malls across each of the six GCC states over the next six months, reflects not only the high incidence of road fatalities in the region, but also marks the start of the UN’s Decade of Action for Road Safety 2011-2020. “Driving with tires at incorrect air pressure, or that are worn-out or damaged has serious safety implications,” says Takumi Kakara, marketing director, Bridgestone MEA. “Our campaign, which will run at major malls across the GCC from February to June, will educate consumers on the importance of regular tire checks and maintenance; focusing on how to properly check tire air pressure and tread wear, and detect any signs of damage. Not doing so can have deadly impacts; for example, under-inflated tires are prone to overheating — a problem that is amplified in the extreme weather conditions experienced by Gulf drivers. Over-inflated tires also pose a real danger, causing problems with steering and cornering, particularly at high speeds. That’s why our message is simple — don’t put your family at risk, check your tires regularly. For regular and professional assistance on tire care and maintenance, we also recommend that drivers visit their local Bridgestone tire service center for help and advice.”
 
DAMAC

Continuing with a very positive momentum from 2010, Saudi Arabia’s bustling real estate sector has achieved another landmark. The Ministry of Commerce and Industry has introduced new world-class laws to advance the off-plan real estate market, by making it more transparent and accessible, as well as offering additional protection and services to investors and customers. The new regulatory frameworks, including escrow accounts and a real estate register, have been initiated to ensure that further growth of the real estate market is sustainable and viable. DAMAC Properties, one of the largest private developers in the Middle East, is among the first to be granted an official license to develop and sell properties off-plan under the jurisdiction of the Kingdom’s new real estate law. Ziad El Chaar, MD, DAMAC Properties, said: “DAMAC Properties has been certified under the new register of qualified real estate developers and has established escrow accounts for its off-plan sales. We welcome and praise these measures as they aim to provide greater confidence to investors and bring further transparency to the sector.” DAMAC Properties has been present in the Saudi market for five years, and is currently constructing, Al Jawharah, the luxury residential tower on the Jeddah Corniche. El Chaar added: Al Jawharah is now fully regularized with the newly introduced laws and there is a lot of local interest in this project. We are now again actively marketing and selling units in this development.”

Global Investment House

Ghalia Club, a CSR initiative by Kuwait-based Global Investment House aiming to empower women, held a workshop titled “The decree regulating the markets and the law establishing the Capital Markets Authority” recently. Women representing several public associations as well as university students attended the workshop, which discussed topics revolving around the effects of CMA’s law on the Kuwaiti market. Wafa’a Al-Rsheid, director of the technical bureau department at the Kuwait Stock Exchange, discussed the CMA Act and the market regulatory decree’s main objectives in separating the market’s regulatory functions and operational activities from its regulatory and legislative bodies, and the unification of the market’s various legislations under one umbrella while applying the principles of the International Organization of Securities Commissions. She also addressed several issues, such as dealing with conflicts of interests, dealing with disputes, the establishment of the capital markets court, and regulating the market to be able to cope better in cases of disasters, crises and uncertainties. She talked about resolving cases that were not covered by the previous legislation, such as the acquisition of controlling stakes in the listed companies and highlighted the penalties of committing corporate and individual indiscretions and violations such as insider trading, leaking of confidential information, manipulation, and provision of inaccurate information.

Toyota/Lexus

2010 has been a year of accolades for Toyota Motor Corporation, with Toyota and Lexus ranking among the top three brands for customer retention in a study conducted by J.D. Power and Associates, which revealed that three out of five Toyota and Lexus owners remain loyal to the brand when they buy a new vehicle. What is more, CNBC has quoted “Fast Money” traders Steve Cortes and Tim Seymour saying positive things about Toyota’s future. “The US market is storming back and scores for Toyota here are going to be fantastic,” said Seymour, founder of EmergingMoney.com. “Lowest inventories ever, highest miles driven and age of fleet than we’ve seen in a long time add up to a fantastic turn around for Toyota.” CNBC also quoted Cortes’ belief that Toyota “makes better cars than the competition.” Faisal Abdalla, vice president, Abdul Latif Jameel Company, said: “What happens in the US doesn’t stay in the US — it’s reflected in markets throughout the world and especially in Saudi Arabia where the strong economy is once again enjoying boom time and 60 percent of the rapidly expanding population is under the age of 25, creating a thriving market for Toyota as the brand of choice for first-time car owners.” Toyota rewards its customers’ loyalty with superior after sales service and this is exemplified by ALJ the sole distributor of TMC brands in Saudi Arabia for more than half a century. Their legendary partnership is based on “The customer comes first” policy.
 
Saudia Cargo

Saudi Airlines Cargo Company (Saudia Cargo) has signed an agreement with Fast Forward Cargo in the UAE to operate 150 charter flights from Sharjah to West Africa in 2011. Under this agreement, Saudia Cargo will operate three weekly flights to Lagos, Nigeria and N’Djamena, Chad. The flights will be operated with B747 freighters. “Sharjah Airport is our hub for freighter flights to West Africa. “We selected Saudia Cargo as our main carrier for this charter program due to the strong partnership we have built up through the operation of 60 flights last year,” said Al Ameen, MD, Fast Forward. Peter Scholten, VP Commercial of Saudia Cargo, said: “This agreement fits in our growth strategy in which we targeted to develop the emerging sea-air business from Asia to West Africa.” Saudia Cargo sells the worldwide belly capacity of Saudi Arabian Airlines fleet of 125 passenger aircraft and operates a fleet of 9 freighters that spans a rapidly expanding global network of 85 destinations. Fast Forward Cargo is described as a young, vibrant freight forwarder with offices in the UAE and Nigeria. Fast Forward claims to be the market leader in the UAE to West Africa air cargo lane.
 
Henkel Arabia

Henkel, a Fortune 500 Company that has carved a major market in the home care, personal care and adhesive technologies worldwide, has launched revolutionary laundry and an insect-control solution for households across the GCC. The innovative products include the Persil Gel, a new generation of washing. It offers a superb laundry experience versus cleaning with powdered detergents. Persil Gel gives perfect cleanliness, leaves clothes without residues, does not damage or harm fabric or health and also gives a long lasting fragrance. Henkel Arabia also announced the launch of its Combat Bait Gel — “the most sophisticated, revolutionized and technologically advanced insecticide ever” — to counter the menace of cockroaches and other crawling insects. Memosh Khawaja, GM, Henkel Arabia, said at a press conference in Dubai: “Since our inception, Persil has been at the forefront of innovation and in the process of becoming one of the most sought-after household brands. Continuing this philosophy to provide new product experiences, developed at the heart of our consumer preferences, we are extremely delighted to launch two new products in the GCC - Persil Gel and Combat Bait Gel.” He added: “From the success and huge consumer acceptance of Persil Abaya shampoo, and Persil liquid detergent for white thobes, we launched Persil Gel liquid detergent that caters to all clothes. With these 3 launches, Persil has become the number 1 liquid detergent not only in the GCC, but in the Middle East as well.