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IT was less a baptism by fire and more an anointment
with vintage champagne when a select group of business and motoring
columnists (all in their best and most mellow mode, we might add!)
were formally introduced to Andreas Biehler, the newly appointed
President of BMW Philippines who succeeds his German compatriot Dr.
Joerg Breuer, who has been assigned to pastures new at the BMW
corporate headquarters in Munich, Germany.
Flanked by his extremely able
senior lieutenants Lito German (director of corporate communications
and marketing, Sonny Medella (director of sales), Dojie Ferrer
(director of after sales) and Leana Farrales (senior corporate
communication manager), Biehler engaged in lively social interaction
with the assorted media folk over a pleasant dinner at Nuvo in
Greenbelt 3.
The likeable Biehler comes to
Manila from a posting in his home country where he was in charge of
the sales region of Berlin and Brandenburg. A BMW executive since
1997, he has lived and worked previously in Asia, with stints in
Korea, China and Japan.
His five-year sojourn in Korea
obviously made a lasting impact on him because he acquired a
charming Korean wife in Min Kyung Hwan who, with their 2-year-old
son, is joining him in Manila.
Biehler did point out that he had
been in the Philippines before on all too brief visits “lasting 48
hours or so.” But he says he saw enough to indicate that the
Philippines “would be a really interesting place to work.”
But ever the family man he adds:
“I’m happy for my wife because after living a few years in
Germany she is more or less coming back to her home region.”
The new man at the helm come on
board a ship that is sailing smoothly and majestically in local
corporate waters. Since its launch in the Philippines in April 2001,
BMW Philippines (a subsidiary of BMW AG) has developed to the leader
in the premium car segment with over 50-percent market share.
Right now Biehler is settling in
at BMW’s local headquarters in the Philamlife Tower in Makati City
and getting an initial impression of his new posting through the
sweeping views of Metro Manila afforded through his corporate suite.
But for sure in coming days we
will be hearing more of him and his plans to continue BMW’s
dynamic progress onward and upward in the Philippines.
Since it opened its first outlet
almost ten years ago (on December 4, 1997, if you are a stickler for
trivia) at the prime corner of 6750 Ayala Avenue, Makati City,
Starbucks has been on a roll.
Now, 110 stores scattered across
the archipelago later, the distinct green logo has almost become a
national symbol. And walking around sipping a Starbucks frappuccino
or mocha is almost a rite of passage for Filipino teens—not to
mention a fashion statement for corporate types walking around the
Makati Business district clutching the ubiquitous white and green
cup.
So with summer hotting up,
Starbucks—which is operated in the Philippines by Rustan Coffee
Corp., the sole authorized licensee of Starbucks Coffee
International—has plans to make a roving presence with its
Starbucks Chill Patrol Van which will cruise Metro Manila (visits to
schools and colleges where it has established a core clientele are
very much on the itinerary) to offer samples of its specific
offerings to cool everyone down in when the temperature
sizzles—spearheaded by a new delight named Banana Java Chip
Frappuccino.
It’s destined to be the coolest
thing around this summer!
E-mail: bizzfizz_98@yahoo.com.
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