Monaco-Matin Eco Club Awards a decade on

The 10th Monaco-Matin Eco Club Awards celebrated seven local businesses at a ceremony attended by many key figures in the Principality including Minister of State Pierre Dartout, on 30 November at the Grimaldi Forum. 

“It was an evening of optimism and resilience showing that Monaco’s economy remains very robust,” said Monaco Economic Board’s Executive Director General, Guillaume Rose, at the opening of the 10th Eco Club Awards, 30 November in the Grimaldi Forum.  

Organised jointly by MEB and the Nice-Matin Group since 2012, every year the awards recognise seven Monaco-based businesses, from a list of nominees put forward in each category to a jury of Eco Club members.  

“For ten years these awards have allowed us to promote how diverse the Monegasque economy is and why the Principality offers fertile ground in a wide range of sectors as varied as health, industry and new technologies,” said Denis Carreaux, Editor in Chief at the Nice-Matin Group. “These are companies who have weathered the crisis and are part of a process of recovery that is creating new opportunities and opening doors.” 

MEB Chairman Michel Dotta reminded the audience that many winners over the past decade have been world leaders in their field, citing SBM Offshore, Monte-Carlo SBM, Dietsmann, Automobile Club de Monaco and Monaco Asset Management to name a few, all eminent members of MEB, and many others representing the Principality and Team Monaco abroad. “Brilliant soloists are great, but nothing beats a team,” he said.

The winners are: Charlie Birkett & Gary Wright from Y.Co (Managers 2021), Terrae (Sustainable Development 2021), Therascience (Innovation 2021), Monaco Logistique (International 2021), and GS Communication (Made in Monaco 2021). For this 10th anniversary edition, the jury also wanted to highlight a previous winner who since their award has symbolised what the Eco Club wants to promote: entrepreneurial success, and the appeal and dynamism of Monaco as a place to do business. It was presented to Thierry Boutsen, CEO and founder of Boutsen Aviation.   

Minister of State Pierre Dartout ended the ceremony by congratulating all the winners who, as he pointed out, come  from a wide variety of backgrounds, profiles and sectors, from aviation through logistics to urban agriculture. “Monaco is renowned the world over, it is a beacon. Business leaders should be congratulated twice as they have weathered the crisis,” he concluded before reminding the audience to get their Covid jabs: “We must be united in this battle”.

*Founded in 2011, Eco Club members are: Monaco Government (Communications Department), Monaco Economic Board (MEB), Grimaldi Forum, Monte-Carlo SBM, Caisse d’Epargne, Monaco Telecom and SMEG.

 

10th EDITION AWARD 

BOUTSEN AVIATION - THIERRY BOUTSEN

After a brilliant career as a Formula 1 driver competing in 164 Grand Prix, Thierry Boutsen has devoted his working life with equal success to his second passion, aviation. With his wife Daniela, he founded Boutsen Aviation in 1997 selling new and second-hand private aircraft, since when 401 planes and helicopters for business have been sold in 73 countries on five continents. The company works with aircraft manufacturers like Airbus, Dassault, Gulfstream, Bombardier, Cessna, Eurocopter, etc. Customers include heads of state, multinational public and private companies, UHNWIs, charter companies and private operators.  

On receiving his award, CEO Thierry Boutsen paid tribute to his team: “I learned in F1 that without a strong team it is absolutely impossible to win. The team is responsible for at least 80% of a driver’s success. With Boutsen Aviation, we have a team with the same mind-set, and the same energy and passion for performance”.

Presenting the 10th Edition Award, Minister of State Pierre Dartout said: “Your journey shows intelligence, dynamism and ability to seek customers on the other side of the world.”  

MANAGER OF THE YEAR 2021

CHARLIE BIRKETT & GARY WRIGHT – Y.CO

Specialising in management, sale and construction of luxury yachts, Y.CO set up the business in 2004. For co-founders CEO Charlie Birkett and Chairman Gary Wright, “to launch in Monaco, capital of yachting, was an opportunity to propel ourselves into this market.”  Now established in London since 2008 and Lauderdale in 2010, Y.CO is set to cross the Atlantic to target New York in 2022. The Managers of the Year 2021 have developed the company from simple sales-charters of luxury yachts to coordinating projects. Y.Co also supports Yachting Ventures, the world’s leading startup accelerator for recreational boats, yachting and superyachts. 

Managers of the Year Award was presented by Jacques Boisson, Secretary of State representing HSH Prince Albert II, & Loïc Chollet, Director Caisse d’Épargne Monaco.

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT 2021 

TERRAE – JESSICA SBARAGLIA

Founded in 2016 as Terre de Monaco, Terrae has developed urban agriculture by bringing eco-friendly kitchen gardens to the roof tops and balconies of buildings in the Principality. This innovative project started with 1,600m2 of vegetable crops, beehives and henhouses at the CHPG, Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, Tour Odéon and Monte-Carlo Bay, that’s four tonnes of vegetables a year without any pesticides. 

Jessica Sbaraglia, the lady behind this “crazy idea”, wanted “to do a meaningful project and cultivate fruit and vegetables full of nutrition and taste in the middle of the city”. The Terrae founder, whose plan is to build 23,000m2 more “farmland”, regularly visits schools to inspire children with her passion.

For the Director of Monaco’s Energy Transition Mission, Annabelle Jaeger Seydoux, who presented the Sustainable Development Award 2021, Terrae represents key eco-values such as “short circuits, a circular economy and rapport with nature”. Another advantage she believes is that it makes people think about “constructing sustainable Mediterranean buildings incorporating space for vegetation and kitchen gardens”. SMEG Director General Thomas Battaglione then reminded the audience of a solar panel project shading these urban farms on Monaco’s rooftops.

INNOVATION AWARD 2021 

THERASCIENCE – JEAN-PIERRE AGARRA

For over 20 years, Therascience laboratory has focused on research, development and production of food supplements, phytotherapy, and diet and sports products. Founded in 1998 by two doctors keen to offer their patients treatment based on prevention, support and treatment for illnesses using latest developments in physio-nutrition, it is one of the leaders of food supplements in France and Europe. With turnover topping €45 million, the group markets 510 products and intends to continue this momentum. “Our strength lies in constantly offering innovative formulas based on ongoing inhouse R&D. We also offer training. Today, everything has been digitised thanks to funds from Fonds bleu,” explains CEO Jean-Pierre Agarra.

The Innovation Award 2021 was presented by Frédéric Genta. “Innovation requires understanding the world as it is now, seeing it differently and above all having the courage to change it and take risks,” said the Country Chief Digital Officer in charge of Monaco’s digital transition.

INTERNATIONAL AWARD 2021

MONACO LOGISTIQUE – LEILA TRABE-CHIHA

Monaco Logistique runs an international transport, freight forwarding and bonded warehouse business. Founded as a logistics company in 1997 by Ameur Chiha, today the company has 200 employees, is worth €20 million and operates out of several sites: 20,000m2 in Nice, 1,500m2 in Monaco and 6,000m2 in Carros.

Monaco Logistique is a family business, and daughter Leila Trabe Chiha alongside her father is behind new projects to expand the business. “We have submitted an application for our site in Carros to become Seveso and store high-risk merchandise. We are also going to buy another company, Monaco Déménagement, and several electric vehicles in 2022,” said the company director.

The International Award 2021 was presented by Minister of Finance and Economy, Jean Castellini, and Sylvie Biancheri, Managing Director Grimaldi Forum. “I have not forgotten the role your company played 18 months ago, going to the ends of Europe to get masks at the start of the pandemic, when some of your staff, who I consider to be anonymous heroes, found themselves waiting on tarmacs or sleeping in trucks before spending long hours on the road,” said Jean Castellini.

MADE IN MONACO AWARD 2021 

GS COMMUNICATION - ALAIN AND DAVID HACHE

Since it was set up by Alain Hache in 1980, Graphic Service Monaco has become a key player in communications in the Principality. “90% of Monegasque magazines are printed by us,” says founder and CEO, adding that GS has expanded its activities over the years to include large format posters and publicity decor for facades, vehicles and construction sites. The offset and digital printer employs 31 people and has the green label, Imprim’vert. His son David Hache joined the business in 2008 and is director.

The Made in Monaco Award 2021 was presented by Stéphane Valeri, President of the National Council, and Monte-Carlo SBM General Secretary Emmanuel Van Peteghem. “In Monaco, we have an industry, a tool for production. It is also a question of sovereignty. If Graphic Service wasn’t there, we wouldn’t be producing the official Journal in Monaco!” said Stéphane Valeri. “It’s a great success story, a great family story,” added Emmanuel Van Peteghem.

JURY SPECIAL PRIZE 2021

SEPM (SOCIETE D’EXPLOITATION DES PORTS DE MONACO) - ALECO KEUSSEOGLOU

Founded in 2002, SEPM (Société d’Exploitation des Ports de Monaco) is responsible for the technical and commercial management of the Principality’s ports. 100% owned by the State, this public limited company also manages Port Hercule’s main semi-floating harbour wall and its cruise ship business.

Headed by Aleco Keusseoglou since 2006, it instigated the acquisition of a third harbour outside Monaco’s borders, Cala del Forte in Ventimiglia. “Inaugurated last summer, the new marina has doubled our capacity to accommodate yachts over 35m in length,” explains Aleco Keusseoglou, who also paid tribute to his 40 colleagues, “Revenue is up 300% in 15 years, it is a very good result that we could not have achieved without such a wonderful team.”

The Jury Special Prize was presented by MEB Chairman Michel Dotta and Jean-Louis Pelé, Director General of the Nice-Matin Group. “It’s the first time in ten years that I have agreed to present an award,” said Michel Dotta in praising the entrepreneurial talent of Aleco Keusseoglou who also heads “a big portfolio management company in Monaco and Switzerland.”

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