AS Monaco Vice President steps down

Vadim Vasilyev

Vadim Vasilyev is stepping away as Vice President and General Manager of AS Monaco. The football club’s poor performance and financial losses have contributed to the decision, which was made by Russian owner Dmitry Rybolovlev.

Vasilyev arrived at the club in 2013. On February 4th, Louis Ducruet, son of Stephanie of Monaco and nephew of Prince Albert, was appointed his assistant.

Vadim Vasilyev
Vadim Vasilyev, Vice-President AS Monaco. Photo: Facebook AS Monaco

It was reported on Thursday afternoon that Vasilyev would not finish the season. AS Monaco released this statement:

“During the six years that Vadim Vasilyev worked at AS Monaco, we have together come a long way. We have had many successes: our team has been on the Ligue 1 podium five times, for the first time in 17 years the club won the French league, and we reached the semi-finals of the Champions League. However, important mistakes were made last year, which led to the worst results the club has had in seven years.

Recently, I have been actively involved in managing and resolving club issues. I took a number of decisions that were difficult but necessary, in my opinion. In particular, I personally wanted to call Leonardo Jardim and apologise for the error made in October. I asked him to come back to the club to lead the team and I validated all his proposals on the arrival of new players during the winter transfer window.

It’s time for change. And these changes affect not only the club, but also the leaders. So I made a decision that is very hard for me. That of releasing Vadim Vasilyev as Vice President and General Manager of the club. I am very grateful for all he has done for our club and wish him all the best for the future.

I intend to introduce a new candidate for the position of Vice President and General Manager of the Club on the AS Monaco Board of Directors on February 22nd.”

Bohemian for a weekend: an unfiltered retreat in southern France

Yoga with a mountain view

Set in the stunning hills of southern France only an hour’s drive from Monaco, ‘Bohemian for a weekend’ is a new luxury experience that excites all the senses.

Incorporating everything from meditation and hiking to sipping champagne by a private pool, organisers say there is nothing like this retreat, which is based on the unique Art-Mind-Body concept.

Retreat founders Lena Beck Roervig and Emilie Janda
Retreat founders Lena Beck Roervig and Emilie Janda

The key words that Emilie Janda and Lena Beck Roervig like to use are “holistic, authentic and transformational” when referring to their retreat. The philosophy mixes art, intuition, nature, meditation, yoga, chi-gong, wellbeing and coaching to create “long-lasting resources and possibilities for our clients,” according to the pair.

The interesting name for the retreat reflects the philosophy that it adopts. The term ‘bohemian’ refers to a creative person, someone who follows their own inner voice and who is artistic, free spirited, inspired and not tied by the rules.

“In summary,” says Emilie, “a bohemian is an authentic and empowered individual.”

Combined with the unique Art-Mind-Body concept, the organisers hope that people will leave the retreat more empowered and happier than when they arrived.

“We have created a retreat that stimulates and works with all our senses: we get creative to re-connect with our intuition, we meditate, we hike, we dance, we use the body in both a healing and energising way. We enjoy delicious meals prepared by expert chefs with local products and, of course, sipping champagne by the pool in a luxury private villa with the stunning view of the Côte d’Azur.”

Emilie made the decision to leave Denmark and take a break from her career in leadership development to open an art gallery in the French Riviera, while Lena is a global executive, leadership and performance coach based in New York, Copenhagen and Cannes with a proven track record of enabling her clients to perform better.

Yoga with a mountain view
Yoga with a mountain view

‘Bohemian for a weekend’ was a natural step for the pair, who are endeavouring to be as authentic as possible. They’ve even gone so far as to use pictures that are #nofilter to convey the real essence of their retreat.

The next retreats are available from March. For more information visit https://www.bohemianforaweekend.com.

COFACE Conference demonstrates positivity despite uncertainties

COFACE Country Risk conference inn Monaco 2019

More than 100 stakeholders in the Principality’s economy attended the Country Risk conference to hear forecasts from COFACE, world leader in credit insurance.

The Monaco Economic Board (MEB), Banque Populaire Méditerranée and Gramaglia Assurances hosted the annual conference, which considers risk and opportunities for businesses, on 12 February at the Café de Paris.

COFACE Chief Economist Julien Marcilly was in the Principality for the fifth consecutive year to outline major global economic trends.

COFACE Country Risk conference inn Monaco 2019
COFACE Country Risk conference inn Monaco 2019. Photo: Monaco Economic Board

According to COFACE, this year’s European elections highlight political uncertainties hanging over Europe: scepticism, Brexit and pessimism.

For example, Julien Marcilly showed that Spaniards think their country is 80th in the GDP world rankings, when in fact it is in 14th place.

Julien Marcilly also unveiled a map of social risks in Africa where tensions are mounting as more and more people gain access to information.

Despite uncertainties in the markets, the insurer only reduced the rating of one country while increasing the rating of nine others.

Ural Airlines boosts Nice-Russia connection

Moscow

From 1 May to 26 October, Ural Airlines will offer two weekly flights, on Tuesdays and Thursdays, between Nice Côte d’Azur and Moscow Zhukovsky.

The A321-200 aircraft will provide almost 23,000 additional seats on flights to Russia.

Moscow

This summer, Nice Côte d’Azur will offer a total of 39 weekly flights to Russia (11 more than in summer 2018), announced the airport.

The arrival of Ural Airlines supports Nice Côte d’Azur Airport’s commitment to better liberalisation of traffic rights and an accelerated decentralisation of the French airspace.

Dominique Thillaud, Chairman of the Board of Aéroports de la Côte d’Azur, said: “Our stronger connections with Russia – a destination for which we provide 22% of seats flying from France – show the growing interest of passengers and companies for the Côte d’Azur.

“Once traffic rights are liberalised, we can boost the attractiveness and economic dynamism of territories, offer business travellers and tourists a high-quality alternative to the hubs, and bring some relief to the saturated skies of Northern Europe.”

Monaco tennis team unhappy with Davis Cup rules

Tennis ball and racquet

Monaco’s Davis Cup team, along with other teams, has appealed against a new format, which puts high performers in lower groups.

Since taking over the international competition – the most significant tennis competition in the world – the Kosom Group changed the rules for how teams are placed.

The organisers hoped to lure top singles players back into team jerseys with a formmat that starts with qualifiers followed by a finals competition.

The ITF Annual General Meeting In Orlando last August confirmed the historic shifts, but not all the countries were happy with the new system.

The new Davis Cup ranking is based on results from the previous four years, which means some teams end up playing in Group 3 whereas, under the previous format, they would have earned a spot in Group 1 or Group 2.

Tennis ball and racquet

Monaco Tennis Federation president Elizabeth-Ann de Massy has spoken out against the changes. Quoted in Tennis World USA, she said, “The new rules concerning the different group levels of the 2019 format are just sportingly unacceptable. It will be more and more difficult for players and sponsors to keep their motivation and for the fans their enthusiasm.

“The Monaco Tennis Federation stands fully beside other federations facing the same issue: Luxembourg, Poland, Montenegro, Estonia, Namibia, Kenya, Honduras, Bahamas, Kuwait and Vietnam.”

Poland defeated Slovenia, Zimbabwe and Romania last year to get promoted into Group 1 under the old system. Under the new rules, they are in Group 3. Poland is trying to appeal that outcome.

Monaco scored four Group 3 wins in 2018, deserving promotion under the old rules, but they will stay in Group 3 again this year.