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AGS Reinforces its Group Quality Management |
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In its commitment to improving its global Quality Policy and services, AGS is proud to announce the appointment of Mr. Alexandre Lebegue to the new position of Group Quality and Customer Claims Manager. |
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This new appointment will compliment and support the role of the Quality Assurance Manager, Mr. Bruce Virlogeux. This particular role requires faultless expertise of our industry, client requirements and expectations, and the various aspects of insurance policies.
Trained in the area of Quality Control, Mr. Alexandre Lebegue has successively held numerous roles within |
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the AGS Group. He started his career as trainee Manager in France, which enabled him to master every step of the removals process. He then became Assistant to the Group Secretary General of the Customer Claims Department, a role that he held until assuming his new position, and which assisted him in becoming highly knowledgable in all aspects of Customer Claims Management.
We wish Mr. Alexandre Lebegue all the very best and every success in his new position. |
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The V.I.E.: a Career Opportunity at AGS |
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The V.I.E. (Voluntary International Enterprise) is a legal framework instituted by UBIFRANCE, which allows a French company to send a young person on an overseas assignment, for a period of 6 to 24 months. |
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This initiative, which was created to encourage small and medium-sized businesses to expand abroad, is coordinated by UBIFRANCE. The administrative, legal, and contractual aspects, as well as remuneration and the protection of social interests are managed by the organization, offering businesses a simple and easy method to attain young graduates looking for professional experience or new career opportunities.
The initiatives of UBIFRANCE are immensely appreciated, promoted, and developed by the AGS Group. For many years, AGS has trusted UBIFRANCE’s expertise and excellence in the recruitment of V.I.E. candidates, who are dispatched throughout the Group’s network.
When AGS makes the choice of recruiting a V.I.E. candidate, it is a strategic choice that will benefit both the future of the company and that of the V.I.E. candidate. True to its employee training policy, AGS first offers the V.I.E. candidate an entry-level job as Deputy Sales Manager. Once this assignment is completed, the candidate benefits from a 12 to 24 month internship program, in which they are trained to become a Director. |
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The acquisition of these particular skills by the V.I.E. candidate is valuable to the company. For this reason, AGS likes to keep the V.I.E. candidate after their training, by offering them great career opportunities, particularly in management positions with a high level of responsibility.
Albin Porquez shares his own experience:
“After a 10 month internship at AGS, I agreed to take a |
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V.I.E. position in Rabat as a salesman for one and a half years. The assignment and goals that were entrusted to me offered me the opportunity to develop professionally and personally.
I learned to adapt, to work with people from different cultures, and to interact in the real life situations within the workplace. I also benefited from my interaction with expatriates of various nationalities and industries.
After my V.I.E. internship, I joined the AGS Group Head Office to participate in the development of our network in Africa, before being nominated as Assistant to the Operations Director. In November 2007, I joined Executive Relocations, a branch of the Group, as Chief Executive Officer.” |
For Antoine Duquesnay, Managing Director of AGS Botswana, the V.I.E. experience has been fulfilling on both a personal level as well as on a professional one:
“After spending a year in Burundi for my final internship, I wanted to return to Africa to work in a more controlled and developed business environment. |
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After two months of studying Portuguese and training as a Commercial Assistant in Mozambique, I left for Angola as a V.I.E. candidate in order to assist the Branch Manager.
I completed my V.I.E. assignment in November 2005, satisfied with the experience but also tired after two years spent in a country that was not very welcoming. I took on responsibilities at AGS Frasers Angola and had to quickly learn the trade in Portuguese, a language in which I was not very fluent.
A V.I.E. in AGS is often offered an internship as Branch Manager in order to perfect his managing skills, before being offered a position as Branch Manager. In my case this was different. Thanks to my intensive training, I was offered a position as AGS Frasers Botswana Branch Manager, where I started in September 2006."
We would like to take the opportunity to wish Albin Porquez, who celebrated his 10th anniversary on February 16th with the AGS Group. We would also like to congratulate AGS Frasers Botswana for obtaining excellent results in its FAIM accreditation, which was granted for the next four years.
For more information on the V.I.E. :
http://www.ubifrance.fr/vie/volontariat-international-entreprise.asp |
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Burundi: Violence in Bujumbura |
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Recent events shook the country late last week, revealing a resumption of uprisings between the government forces and the NLF (National Liberation Forces) rebels. |
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During the night of April 17th, the raids on Bujumbura jeopardized the peace treaty that was signed on September 7th, 2007 in Dar es Salam, and it is feared that this could be a sign of further fighting to come.
Due to bombings that occurred on the night of April 23rd, the French Embassy in Bujumbura has re-issued its security measures for the second time since the first |
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release on April 18th. The Embassy urges those who live specifically in the Northwest area, to take the following safety measures:
- Avoid all moves within the city or outside the city at night.
- Delay, as often as possible, all moves towards the Province during the day, excluding important professional moves.
- Avoid using the road n.3 (toward Rumonge) and the road n.9 (toward Bubanza).
- Avoid all travel further than the airport.
- Stay in contact with the French Embassy security post, by radio or telephone.
Julien Favre-Bulle, the Managing Director of AGS Frasers Burundi, has confirmed that the branch’s facilities have not been damaged during the bombings. It is possible that, during the course of any conflicts or uprisings, AGS Frasers Burundi’s operational activities may be disrupted in order to protect our infrastructure and the interests of our clients and employees.
Despite pressure from the UN and the European Commission on rebels and the government, 11 rebels (of the last active guerrilla group) were killed on Monday by Burundi troops during clashes, bringing the death toll to 44.
We will continue to keep you informed of any changes if the situation worsens.
For all other information or urgent requests, please contact AGS Frasers Burundi’s Managing Director, Mr. Julien Favre-Bulle, or the Africa Desk Burundi coordinator, Ms. Hayley Atherton. |
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STOP AIDS: A day of action in Senegal |
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Because the AGS Group takes a proactive stance in giving back to society, and incorporates its social responsibility policy into its business practices, it commits as often as possible to sponsorship of local charities. |
In commemoration of World AIDS Day on December 1, 2007, Shell Senegal organized a charity gala, held on December 4, in aid of ‘Synergy for Children’. The gala dinner, held at the Goree Museum of History, was attended by the President of Shell Africa. AGS Frasers Senegal has once again provided support to help children and orphans affected by HIV/AIDS. AIDS is still one of the leading causes of death in the world and affects 33.2 million people.
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The ‘Synergy for Children’ foundation, created in 1996 in partnership with National AIDS Control Council and Senegalese AIDS Research Network, promotes the idea of individual responsibility for the achievement of a greater good, and supports people in their belief in their own potential and capabilities. Amongst the programmes in process, the ‘childhood and HIV contagion’ project acknowledges and raises awareness of the pediatric aspect of the disease on a national level. The foundation intervenes, on a medical and social level, by way of preventative measures, promotion, screenings, and constant monitoring of individuals or families affected by HIV.
In its commitment to carry out the World AIDS Day message of ‘Stop AIDS. Keep the Promise’, AGS, represented by AGS Frasers Senegal, alongside Shell and other corporations, made a contribution to this charity event. All proceeds went directly to the welfare and support of the children and orphans of HIV/AIDS
For more information, please contact ‘Synergy for Children’: ngagne@sentoo.sn, or the United Nation website: http://www.un.org/events/aids/2007 |
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Frogs Have A Ball in Bratislava |
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Created in 2005 by Samuel Barrois, former director of AGS Bratislava, the association, Zabuznici, meaning “Frog Eaters”, gathers together the French, French-speakers, Slovakian and foreign Francophiles, offering them cultural, tourist and sport activities, so they can discover the charms of Slovakia. |
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The main event of the year, that everyone eagerly awaits, is the “Bal des Fous”, or “Madman’s Ball”. With growing success each year, the ball aims to bring together the French expatriate community and their friends of all nationalities.
It has become something of a tradition that, for one night each year, a wild and festive ambience sweeps through |
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the city of Bratislava. This event, which has now taken place for three consecutive years, has proven to be a huge success. On 24 November 2007, nearly 800 guests gathered for a fancy dress ball, based on the theme of the indomitable Gauls, who held out against their invaders. The guests took part in concerts, raffles, best-dressed competitions and other games, all while enjoying the infamous magic potion, which is said to provide superhuman strength and invincibility. |
Only in the morning when the rooster crowed, did both the Gauls and Romans return to Morpheus – by Toutatis!
The only thing our daredevil Gauls feared was that the sky may fall on their heads. In order to avoid this inconvenience that would certainly have spoiled their evening, the “Frog Eaters” decided to surround |
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themselves with various ‘druid’ sponsors, such as the ‘AGS druid’, well-known for his capacity to move the smallest object as well as the biggest mountain, and this, even outside the Gallo-Roman world! AGS thus sponsored the event, not only with logistics, but also with storage and creation of the party’s decorations.
AGS was authorized to park its trucks in front of the main entrance, enabling guests to clearly identify AGS’ close involvement with the association. In addition to this, signage showing AGS’ services was placed near the lockers. This also contributed to the branding and offered greater visibility to AGS Bratislava.
Beyond the festivities of the event, the creation of the association shows the investment, integration, and commitment of the AGS Bratislava team in the business, cultural, and local community. We wish them every success for the next annual event, with the support of the AGS Group. |
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