Day: 7 November 2017

On November 8, Outward Bound Monaco, under the High Patronage of HSH Prince Albert II and in the presence of HRH the Duke of York KG, will be holding the first Princes’ Cup rowing competition in Port Hercule in partnership with the Société Nautique de Monaco (SNM).

In what is set to become a regular sporting fixture going forward in both the Principality of Monaco and in Great Britain, the inaugural regatta at 10 am Wednesday will include four teams each with a renowned sporting celebrity for its captain and named after an Outward Bound location – rugby player Dan Luger (ABERDOVEY), rowing champion Mathew Bennett (ULLSWATER), cycling champion Tiffany Cromwell (MONACO) and Mathieu Monfort, 2016 French rowing champion (LOCH EIL).

Additionally, each boat will have members of the Monaco Rowing Club (SNM) and students who have recently participated in a course with Outward Bound Monaco

The event will see four races of 300 meters where teams compete two by two.

The Patrons of Outward Bound Monaco, Prince Albert and Prince Andrew will present the Princes’ Cup to the winning team.

Outward Bound, which recently celebrated its 75th anniversary, is a non-profit organization with 35 world-wide educational centres offering outdoor education programmes for youth.

Over 200,000 people benefit from a course each year worldwide, including 300 from Monaco (it remains relatively unknown in France).

The unique Monaco branch of the charity, which was founded in 2004, benefits from the High Patronage of Prince Albert, and the generous sponsorship of Noaro Frères, the Stelios Foundation, the James Mitchell Foundation, Rommy Gianni and John Michael Midziwill.

Outward Bound Monaco’s General Secretary Judy Churchill told Monaco Life, “We want to help anchor children locally, so they develop values and create a community that they can give back to.”

Ms Churchill also added that there’s not a huge selection of activities for children in Monaco, and “money solves nothing as far as kids are concerned. They need to be motivated, stimulated, and learn values they can take anywhere in life.”

The first Princes’ Cup Wednesday should provide just that.

Article first published November 7, 2017.

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In 2017, it’s rather hard to ignore the immense impact that social media has made on our culture. Stars are made overnight and careers crash and burn in 140 characters or less.

Back in the early days of our online fascination with other people’s lives, a handsome young medical student named Mikhail Varshavski downloaded a photo-sharing app called Instagram and began to document his journey through medical school, his residency and, these days, his professional life in the medical world.

Wanting to take away the mystery and sometimes stigma attached to a practitioner, Mikhail pulled back the curtains to show a more personal side of a doctor’s life, like photos of him attending fashion events or playing with his beloved husky Roxy … or his chiselled abs. Cute guy + cute dog + enviable social life … “Dr Mike”, as he was nicknamed in school, struck digital gold.

Fast forward to 2015, when Dr Mike was in his residency Buzzfeed published an article extolling his extremely good looks and the media platform best known for its viral content was a catalyst for the social media storm to come once again.

Overnight he became the Sexiest Doctor on Instagram with an account that skyrocketed to one million followers. In November of that same year, People Magazine named him “The Sexiest Doctor Alive”. Profiles followed in NY Magazine, Time, Coveteur and Mr Porter, and Dr Mike was hailed as the real-life version of Dr McDreamy on Grey’s Anatomy.

But Dr Mike doesn’t just sit around taking selfies all day. He’s gone on to launch his Limitless Tomorrow Foundation that financially supports deserving students who excel in and out of the classroom. To raise money, he partnered with a dating app to raffle off a date with himself. At $10 a ticket Dr Mike raised $91,000 (€79,000). As well, for the last two years, he’s lead a team in the Susan G Komen Greater NYC Race Against The Cure and produced and starred in a viral video to promote the race.

In between appearing on TV shows like Dr Oz, Rachel Ray, and Good Morning America, plus acting as a chief medical host for a live televised Stand Up To Cancer event in the UK, Dr Mike travels around on speaking engagements at some of the most prominent universities, radio shows and healthcare conferences in the US. (He was a contestant on Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? with the intention of donating his winnings to the Susan G Komen Foundation).

He’s good looking AND CHARITABLE? Can he get anymore perfect? The answer is yes.

In true millennial form, he launched his YouTube Channel in April 2017 in order to engage other Millennials and initiate a conversation about health, lifestyle and medical issues in a tone that those born between 1983 and 2000 would respond well to.

The unabashed social media promotion, however, is not everyone’s cup of tea. Some critics have labelled the good doctor as superficial or narcissistic, but this doesn’t phase “The Sexiest Doctor Alive”, who with his combined following of 3.5 million has seen an increase in patients coming to him to educate themselves on preventative healthcare.

In his words, “Selfies are catching cancers early. I never thought I’d be able to say that.”

Dr Mike will be speaking at TEDxMonteCarlo on Saturday, November 11, at the Grimaldi Forum. Tickets available online. Article first published November 7, 2017.

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On Monday, November 6, Mayor Georges Marsan honoured Charles Leclerc, the 2017 World Champion Formula 2 winner, at a ceremony attended by nine deputies and councillors.

Mayor Marsan presented Leclerc, a 20-year-old Monegasque, who has been called “genius” and “F1’s next big thing” in motorsport press, with a trophy symbolising his world championship title.

“Ever since you started driving a kart on the Bianchi family track in Brignoles, you’ve been making progress,” the mayor, who just completed the Monte-Carlo eRallye last week, said in his speech. “This victory not only confirms your driving skills, but also your hard work and will to succeed.”

Mayor Marsan also highlighted the young driver’s achievements this season, which have included six wins and eight pole positions. “Thanks to you, the Monegasque national anthem has played six times on the world’s circuits.”

There is a total of eleven races in the 2017 F2 calendar, which is sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA). The Ferrari Formula 1 junior driver sealed the 2017 Formula 2 title in Jerez in October, although the team championship title will be decided on November 26 at the season’s final event – the Yas Marina Circuit in UAE.

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Minister of Health and Social Affairs Didier Gamerdinger has held an information meeting with Monaco’s social partners – employers and unions – following the recent changes in the work force by President Macron’s new government.

Following amendments in French labour law in September, the Minster wanted to hear from the employers and unions and to share with them the analysis of Monaco’s Directorate of Labour on the potential impact of the Macron Ordinances for Monegasque Social Law.

All the new French provisions were presented and commented on, with a technical and legal analysis of the possible – rather limited – consequences in Monaco.

Mr Gamerdinger reassured those present that the employees of the Principality are not concerned at this stage by the increase of the Generalised Social Contribution (CSG).

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On Tuesday, November 7, Indosuez Wealth Management, the global wealth management brand of Crédit Agricole Group, announced that its subsidiary CA Indosuez Wealth (Europe) has signed an agreement with GBH SpA, Exor SA, Eurazeo SA, Swilux SA, and Torreal SA, the main shareholders of Banca Leonardo, to acquire 67.67 percent of Banca Leonardo, a leading wealth manager in Italy.

CA Indosuez Wealth (Europe) will offer the other shareholders of Banca Leonardo to purchase their shares at the same price and conditions, so that CA Indosuez Wealth (Europe) may ultimately own up to 100 percent of Banca Leonardo.

Acquiring Banca Leonardo will allow Indosuez Wealth Management to further enhance its existing wealth management capabilities and offering in the Italian market, adding €5.9 billion (as of June 30. 2017) in assets under management (AuM).

The acquisition will bring a client portfolio predominantly composed of High Net Worth Individuals (HNWIs). The combined business will provide added-value services to new and existing HNWI clients, as well as support to Crédit Agricole Italia through active cooperation, enhancing client satisfaction and profitability.

The deal is fully in line with Crédit Agricole Group’s Medium-Term Plan “Strategic Ambition 2020”.

Paul de Leusse, CEO of Indosuez Wealth Management, commented: “The wealth management sector in Italy, which is expected to grow at a rate of four per cent per annum, offers great opportunities for growth and innovation and we look forward to working with our new colleagues from Banca Leonardo to enhance our positioning and expand our business in Italy.”

Giampiero Maioli, Senior Country Officer for Crédit Agricole in Italy & CEO of Gruppo Bancario Crédit Agricole Italia, added: “This strengthening of our offering in wealth management will allow the Group to better serve High Net Worth Individuals and further develop synergies between the different activities of the bank to the benefit of our customers, stakeholders and staff. It reinforces our already strong position in Italy and broadens the range of products and services offered to our 3.5 million clients.”

Indosuez Wealth Management is represented in Monaco by CFM Indosuez Wealth Management, which was named 2017 Best Bank in Monaco by the international magazine Global Finance.

On October 29, HE Claude Cottalorda, Ambassador of the Principality of Monaco in France, accompanied by his wife, represented Prince Albert at the finals of the ninth Nadia and Lili Boulanger International Voice-Piano Competition, which is held in the National Conservatory of Dramatic Art in Paris.

The competition took place over three days and brought together 33 duos of 17 different nationalities. Each of the six finalist teams presented a programme that included a “Sonnet” by Benoît Mernier, a piece composed especially for this ninth edition and a melody by Lili or Nadia Boulanger

This year, the Duo Chant-Piano Grand Prix, Monaco’s Rainier III Prize of €12,000, awarded with the support of the Sovereign Prince, was awarded to the French mezzo-soprano, Ambroisine Bré, 29, and Chinese pianist Qiaochu Li, 28. The duo also received a Special Mention for the best interpretation of “Sonnet”.

The German Lied Prize (€6,000) honoured soprano Sophia Burgos and pianist Daniel Gerzenberg and the Prix de Mélodie, the French song prize (€6,000) soprano Marie-Laure Garnier and pianist Cécilia Oneto-Bensaid.

The Nadia and Lili Boulanger International Voice-Piano Competition is a springboard for the career of these young musicians, opening the doors to various festivals in France and abroad.

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