THE WEEK OF MAY 4, 2009

L I F E

L E I S U R E

L E A R N I N G

Making waves
The inaugural Louis Vuitton Pacific Series Cup celebrates the excitement of sailing

Let the good times roll

Rolls-Royce enters new chapter with Ghost

Swinging into action

The Annual Tower Club Golf Championship is back

Cognac custodian
Gilles Hennessy talks about his legacy and the evolution of the brand and the industry

OP2 THEEDGE SINGAPORE

| MAY 4, 2009

BUY RIGHT
| BY AUDREY SIMON |

PATRICK GOH/THE EDGEMALAYSIA

Hot chocolate
Chinese actress Shu Qi is the face of Frdrique Constant timepiece
The Ladies Automatic Double Heartbeat Chocolate timepiece by Frdrique Constant comes in a rich chocolate shade. The watch is the choice of brand ambassador, Shu Qi. It is a perfect match for the 33-year-old Chinese actress who successfully crossed over from Chinese movies to Hollywood with her acclaimed role in The Transporter, opposite Jason Statham. Shu Qi is also famous for her sultry beauty this year, entertainment channel E! voted her as the actress with the worlds sexiest lips. The timepiece has a rose-gold, stainless-steel case and mother-ofpearl dial, and is richly decorated with 56 full-cut diamonds on the bezel. Available at authorised retailers.

EDITOR/REGIONAL MANAGING DIRECTOR Tan Boon Kean (bktan@bizedge.com) SECTION EDITOR Audrey Simon (audrey.simon@bizedge.com) CONTRIBUTORS Anandhi Gopinath, Felix Cheong, Jacqueline Toyad, Tony Watts COPY-EDITING DESK Elaine Lim, Evelyn Tung, James Chong, Patrick Fong, Chew Ru Ju, Ezanor Kasah PHOTO EDITOR Samuel Isaac Chua (samuelisaac.chua@bizedge.com) PHOTOJOURNALIST Gwyneth Yeo (gwyneth.yeo@bizedge.com) EDITORIAL COORDINATOR Rahayu Mohamad (rahayu.mohamad@bizedge.com) DESIGN DESK Tan Siew Ching, Christine Ong, Chan Yoke Lin, Jamy Gan ADVERTISING + MARKETING REGIONAL GENERAL MANAGER | Edward Stanislaus (edward@bizedge.com) SENIOR MANAGER | Colin Tan (colin.tan@bizedge.com) Cecilia Kay (cecilia.kay@bizedge.com) Jeffrey Wong (jeffrey.wong@bizedge.com) Windy Tan (windy.tan@bizedge.com) Faith Teo (faith.teo@bizedge.com) COORDINATOR | Nor Aisah Bte Asmain (nor.asmain@bizedge.com) MALAYSIA REPRESENTATIVE | Helen John Corry (helen.johncorry@bizedge.com) CIRCULATION-SUBSCRIPTIONS REGIONAL SENIOR MANAGER | Suresh Kumar (suresh@bizedge.com) ASSISTANT MANAGER | Naziela Nasir (naziela.nasir@bizedge.com) ASSISTANTS | Juliana Ibrahim (juliana.ibrahim@bizedge.com) Iryanti Zainol (iryanti.zainol@bizedge.com) PUBLISHER THE EDGE PUBLISHING PTE LTD 150, CECIL STREET #13-00 SINGAPORE 069543 TEL: (65) 6232 8622 FAX: (65) 6232 8620 PRINTER KHL Printing Co Pte Ltd 57 Loyang Drive Singapore 508968 Tel: (65) 6543 2222 Fax: (65) 6545 3333 We welcome your comments and criticism. Send your letters to The Edge, Rafes City Post Ofce PO Box 218 Singapore 911708 Tel: (65) 6232 8622 Fax: (65) 6232 8620 e-mail: feedbackspore@bizedge.com
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Sense of style Co-designed by Vertu brand ambassador, Michelle Yeoh, the Vertu Constellation Vivre Collection is a sight to behold. Just like Yeoh, each piece reflects a sense of style and energy, especially in its palette of pink, fuchsia and ocean blue. Theres also the limited edition handset in black with rose-gold bezel. Priced from $10,000 to $40,000, these handsets can be viewed at the Vertu boutique in Raffles Hotel.

Art of writing Montegrappas genius shines through in its latest collection, known as the Genio Creativo Collection, which pays tribute to legendary artist Amedeo Modigliani. Unlike Picasso, who made distortions of faces an art, Modigliani used long, flat, oval faces and crinkled mouths and inexpressive eyes. This image has been successfully interpreted on the fine writing instruments, whose shaft and cap are decorated with oval-shaped faces. Priced from $5,000 and available at authorised retailers. Close shave Professional skincare brand Dermalogica has launched the Shave System, a three-step approach to preparing skin for a smooth shave. The simple regime comprises pre-shave, shave and post-shave care products. The Shave System kit costs $99 and comprises the Daily Clean Scrub; Preshave Guard; Soothing Shaving Cream; Post-shave Balm; Daily Defense Sunblock SPF15; and Invigorating Shave Gel. Available at Leonard Drake Skin & Health Spa Centres and selected Dermalogica-authorised skincare centres.

Spring fever Bebes spring offering is a diverse collection that will suit the sartorial needs of every woman. The collection has skinny jeans, flirty floral dresses, blouses sewn from soft fabric with lots of ruffles, and safari-inspired dresses. Available, along with matching springtime accessories, at Bebe boutiques.

Steely beauty The Tambour Automatic Lady in steel and gold by Louis Vuitton is powered by a toptier automatic movement for precise timetelling functions. View it at Louis Vuitton boutiques.

Romance is in the air Ralph Lauren Romance Eau Fraiche invites you to get romantic and playful and stay fresh while youre at it. It has uplifting ingredients such as lotus flower, juicy guava, water lily and musk. Retails at $119 (100ml) and available at Tangs Orchard and VivoCity; Takashimaya; Robinsons Raffles City and Centrepoint; Metro Paragon and Sengkang; Isetan Scotts and BHG Bugis.

Smart traveller Encouraged by the success of the 2005 ProDLX series, Samsonite has launched the ProDLX 08 collection of travel bags that meets the needs of business travellers. The collection comprises Upright, which is lightweight and easy to manoeuvre; Spinner, which has new technology that allows for smooth steering; Garment bag on wheels, which is easily taken on the road as you dont have to grapple with an add-on that you have to hand carry; and Garment bag threefold, a computer bag that fits comfortably in front of your garment bag. Available at Samsonite boutiques.

THEEDGE SINGAPORE | MAY 4, 2009 OP3

Bottega Veneta opens in Moscow ber luxurious leatherware label Bottega Veneta has brought its classic Italian style to the streets of Moscow with a brand-new boutique on renowned Tretyakov Drive. This small, elegant street in the citys Kitai-gorod district is known as one of the worlds most exclusive shopping enclaves, with illustrious tenants that include Bentley Motors Ltd, Baccarat, Chopard, Bulgari, Roberto Cavalli, Gucci and Ermenegildo Zegna. Bottega Venetas new boutique measures 1,292 sq ft and carries womens ready-to-wear items, small leather goods, handbags, shoes, fine and fashion jewellery, and gifts for men. The interior design features Bottega Venetas signature store concept created by the brands creative director Tomas Maier. Everything has been custom-made for the new store, right from the walnut tables and handcrafted vitrines to the leather-sheathed door handles. Among the notable design features are aerodynamically shaped, vertical window louvres of palm wood and steel, finely crafted display counters with slide-out billiard-cloth presentation pads, mohair furniture upholstery and custom-dyed, pure New Zealand wool carpets. A quiet, sensuous palette of matte neutrals and earth tones underscores the privacy, sophistication and comfort of the shopping experience. By Anandhi Gopinath

Tods launches fall/winter 2009 collection Derek Lam, the famously flamboyant creative director of Italian leatherware brand Tods, hosted a glamorous spring luncheon recently to launch the brands much anticipated fall/winter 2009 collection. Retail and reality was the theme of the day, as Tods channelled 10% of profits from all sales that day to the Couture Cares breast cancer research charity. Celebrity guests at the launch, held at the brands Rodeo Drive boutique in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, included Jessica Alba, Jamie Tisch, Angie Harmon, Jacqui Getty and Amber Valetta. Also present was Couture Cares co-founders Crystal Lourd and Stephanie Murray. Known for her impeccable sense of style, the lovely Alba has been a fan of Lams collection for Tods since meeting him two years ago. I love simple clothes, and with the right bag and shoe, its so easy to be well dressed, she says. She is pictured here with Lam and the python version of the G-Bag, Tods it bag of the season. By Anandhi Gopinath

YourWeekOut
WATCH Star Trek (opens on May 8), which sees J J Abrams, creator of hit TV series Lost, taking a shot at this muchloved sci- franchise. This new instalment tells the story before it all began: Zachary Quinto from Heroes plays a young Spock while Eric Bana (Hulk) plays the Enterprise crews nemesis. Also stars Chris Pine and Karl Urban. PACK a picnic basket and blanket and enjoy a night of Shakespeare under the stars with the Bards romantic comedy, Much Ado About Nothing. This lighthearted comedy, performed by the Singapore Repertory Theatre, follows the trials and tribulations of two courtships, those of Hero and Claudio, and Beatrice and Benedick. Stars Adrian Pang, Jason Chan, Wendy Kweh and Julie Wee. May 7 to 31, 7.30pm (gates open at 6.30pm), Fort Canning Park. Tickets at $33 to $83 from Sistic*. MAKE a date with Beltuner in their Jazz Manouche concert. The French ensemble showcases the diabolical rhythms of gypsy music like the pompe manouche, the waltzs whirl, the tango and ballads from Eastern Europe. May 7, 8pm, Alliance Francaise Theatre. Tickets at $35 from Sistic*. CATCH The Studios 2009s A Madwomans Diary, inspired by two real-life stories. This intimate two-woman play, performed by Li Xie and Goh Guat Kian, shows the inner strength of extraordinary individuals trapped in domestic or political situations. Performed in English and Mandarin with English subtitles. May 7 to 9, 8pm, Esplanade Theatre Studio. Tickets at $28 from Sistic*. MAKE a date with renowned Chinese cellist Wang Jian, who performs Shostakovichs elegiac Cello Concerto No 1 with the Singapore Symphony Orchestra in the concert, The Stuff of Legends. Conductor Lan Shui also leads the orchestra in Tchaikovskys Francesca da Rimini, Leong Yoon Pins Dayong Sampan Overture and Chen Qi-Gangs Wu Xing (The Five Elements). May 8, 7.30pm, Esplanade Concert Hall. Tickets at $11 to $75 from Sistic*. DONT miss The Peony Pavilion, an epic Chinese Kun opera which combines literature, music, dance and drama presented in three parts over three nights. Produced by renowned writer Kenneth Pai Hsien-yung, this abridged version of what is considered a Chinese national treasure, tells of a young woman who develops an intense longing for a handsome young man after a passionate dream of a mysterious stranger. Performed in Mandarin with English and Chinese subtitles. May 8 to 10, 8pm, Esplanade Theatre. Tickets at $50 to $120 from Sistic*. JOIN Krisdayanti live in concert. This Indonesian superstar, who found fame after winning Asia Bagus in 1992, has chalked up multiple awards, recorded 11 albums and starred in TV movies and lms. She returns to the Singapore stage after ve years with renowned lm composer Andi Rianto as music director. May 9, 7.30pm, Esplanade Concert Hall. Tickets at $78 to $188 from Sistic*. *Sistic hotline: 6348 5555

OP4 THEEDGE SINGAPORE

| MAY 4, 2009

PEOPLE&PLACES

waves
Anandhi Gopinath witnesses the inaugural Louis Vuitton Pacic Series Cup celebrating the excitement and glamour of sailing

Making

he massive democratisation of air travel, coupled with the security threats it has faced in recent years, has ensured that much of the glamour associated with it has gone. There is denitely nothing even remotely romantic about lining up for hours at an airport security checkpoint, nor is it very fashionable to toddle through immigration barefoot because your boots need to go through the X-ray machine. Journeys made by sea are probably the last bastion of travel that have retained the old-fashioned pomp and drama of a voyage. Indeed, there is something about travelling aboard a sea vessel that inspires thoughts of decadence, luxury and sophistication. The dening force in the art of travel, French malletier Louis Vuitton, could certainly say a thing or two about the ocean.

In addition to the many travelling trunks and items designed for use on ocean voyages, from 1933 to 1938, Gaston-Louis Vuitton developed a unique model boat division. However, it was only in 1983 that the brand established a relationship with the worlds most prestigious yachting event in the world, The Americas Cup, to create the Louis Vuitton Cup. The cup was born in 1983 as the preliminary competition for the iconic Americas Cup, which predates the modern Olympics by 45 years. And after more than two decades with the Americas Cup, this year the luxury fashion icon has struck out on its own with the rst-ever Louis Vuitton Pacic Series Cup starting a whole new chapter on the highly competitive international yachting scene. After a gruelling two-week sail-

ing schedule, the inaugural Louis Vuitton Pacic Series drew to a majestic end on Valentines Day at New Zealands lovely Viaduct Harbour in Auckland, where the Emirates Team New Zealand (ETNZ) celebrated its win in a champagne and sea spray-soaked ceremony. It beat eight other teams Italys Damiani Italia Challenge and Luna Rossa, South Africas Team Shosholoza, BMW Oracle Racing from the US, UKs Teamorigin, Team China, Greek Challenge, K Challenge from France and winner of the 2007 Americas Cup, Swiss team Alinghi on a rainy and windy day. The Emirates Team New Zealand and BMW Oracle Racing provided all the boats that were used in the regatta, which were modied to ensure their performance was as close to each other as possible. Unlike the extremely competitive Americas Cup, the

The champagne-soaked celebration that followed Emirates Team New Zealands win

Louis Vuitton Pacic Series is a friendly tournament and intended to do nothing more than celebrate the excitement and glamour of the sport of sailing. Louis Vuittons dissociation from the Americas Cup was not the most amicable of splits; after 25 years of involvement, the brand announced the termination of all its sponsorship when the organisation behind the Americas Cup was taken over by Ernesto Bertarelli, leader of the winning team Alinghi. Yet, when asked, Louis Vuitton president and CEO Yves Carcelle very diplomatically refused to comment on the past or the future. Instead, he heaped praise on the fabulous way the two-week event had been organised. We dont know for the moment what the future will be but I would like to concentrate on the last two weeks, he said. I really would like to thank New Zealand as the fantastic host of the event and the people of Auckland and New Zealand for being so responsive. I would also like to thank the committee and volunteers, as well as Emirates Team New Zealand and BMW Oracle for lending their boats. It was a great two weeks, lots of fun on the water, and we had a fantastic winner. Shore crews were still decommissioning the yachts the following night as guests, sponsors and supporters of the event gathered in the elegant surroundings of the University of Auckland Business School for the prize-giving ceremony and gala dinner in honour of ETNZ and Alinghi. While everyone nursed utes of Moet et Chandon, two stilt

dancers, dressed in white, pirouetted and parried with sail-shaped banners, symbolising the Cup boats engaged in its ritual prestart circling. Guests were also treated to a multimedia show of the entire regatta as chronicled by worldfamous sailing photographers Gilles Martin-Raget, Guillame Plisson and Franck Socha. Some of their work has been immortalised in a book entitled The Louis Vuitton Cup, 25 Years of Yacht Racing in Pursuit of The Americas Cup, edited by Louis Vuitton Cup founder Bruno Troubl and featuring text and sketches by journalist and naval architect Franois Chevalier. The uber-chic gala dinner attracted more than just fans of sailing and yachting; Australian television personality Erika Heynatz, model Xin Li and US footballer Dhani Jones also joined Louis Vuittons head honchos and sailing celebrities from all over the world at the event. In their acceptance speeches, Dean Barker and Brad Butterworth, the skippers of ETNZ and Alinghi respectively, thanked Louis Vuitton and the entire crew that managed the event and showered compliments on each teams outstanding performance. But the hugest compliment of all came from Carcelle himself: I think weve seen here a fantastic sports series. The teams respected one another in an amazing way. The level of competition was extraordinary. Anandhi Gopinath is a writer with the Options desk at The Edge Malaysia

THEEDGE SINGAPORE | MAY 4, 2009 OP5

Nautical series
In honour of the inaugural Louis Vuitton Pacic Series, the brand has created a collection of timepieces inspired by the prestige of yachting
For an indulgence like no other, the Tambour Lovely Cup Chronograph Semi-Paved with diamonds is a must. With 451 diamonds weighing in at 1.6 carats, this limited edition piece is truly extraordinary.

The Tambour Lovely Cup Chronograph is already a bestseller worldwide. It features a delicate mother of pearl dial and a white rubber strap embossed with the Louis Vuitton monogramme. The timepiece comes with a steel case and is tted with a quartz movement. The black version comes with a black lacquered dial and black rubber strap.

Fans of sportier pieces will love the Tambour XL LV Cup Regatta Black Chronograph, which features the Caliber LV171 automatic movement encased in a nautical-inspired dial and a coated leather strap.

The Tambour Diving Lady Blue is sure to be a favourite with diving enthusiasts. It combines precious metals, a solid rubber strap and a sprinkling of diamonds (RM38,300).

The Tambour Pink Gold Automatic Chronometer takes on a classic feel with a warm gold case and brown leather strap. It is tted with the El Primero movement. The Tambour in Black Black Force range is a true sportsmans watch, featuring either a GMT or chronometer encased in a strengthened, brushed steel case, held together by a Damier-embossed black rubber strap.

MUSIC

Elton Johns wealth drops 26%; McCartney loses money

| BY FARAH NAYERI |

lton John leads UK music millionaires whose fortunes have shrunk in the financial crisis, according to the Sunday Times 2009 Rich List. John saw his personal worth fall 26%, though he still ranked eighth wealthiest, the Sunday Times said in an emailed release on April 24, before the lists April 26 publication. The knighted singer-songwriter is now worth 175 million ($381.7 million), down from 235 million last year, it says. John spends quite a bit: Hes given away 42 million to charity, which is a considerable amount, and his Las Vegas tour is coming to an end, Ian Coxon, editor of the Sunday Times Rich list, says. Music millionaires losses were broadly in line with the overall pattern, he adds.

Billionaires and multimillionaires on the Sunday Times Rich List have seen their fortune eroded by the worst slump since World War II. The MSCI World Index tumbled more than 40% in 2008. The global economy will shrink 1.3% this year, according to an International Monetary Fund forecast. Paul McCartney, the former Beatle who last year paid his estranged wife Heather Mills 24.3 million in a divorce settlement, saw his wealth drop 12% from 500 million to 440 million. Other decliners included: Mick Jagger of the Rolling Stones, down 16% to 190 million; Sting, down 10% to 180 million; and Eric Clapton, down 14% to 120 million. David and Victoria Beckhams wealth was unchanged at 125 million. On the other hand, Judy Craymer, producer of Mamma Mia!, saw her fortune surge 29% to 75 million.

Music millionaires wealth is calculated by surveying the accounts of the companies that they and their bands run, and calculating royalties on recordings and ticket sales on tours. The Rich List has been compiled for the last 21 years, and individuals advisers are contacted, Coxon says. To be one of the 1,000 people on the Sunday Times Rich List, you have to have been born in the UK, to live in the UK, or draw a major part of your wealth from the UK, Coxon says. Last year, you had to be worth at least 80 million to land on the list. This year, 55 million pounds was enough to make you eligible, Coxon says. Here is a table (right) showing the ranking and wealth in pounds of the top 15 music millionaires, with the percentage change at the end. Figures in parentheses represent the 2008 rank and wealth. E Bloomberg LP

Johns fortune has declined due, in part, to his having donated 42 million to charity

Top 15 music millionaires

2009 2008 CHANGE (%)

1 Clive Calder (1) 2 Andrew Lloyd-Webber (2) 3 Paul McCartney (3) 4 Cameron Mackintosh (4) 5 Simon Fuller (4) 6 Mick Jagger (9) 7 Sting (11) 8 Elton John (8) 8 Keith Richards (12) 10 Olivia and Dhani Harrison (14)

1.3 billion 750 million 440 million 350 million 300 million 190 million 180 million 175 million 175 million 140 million

(1.3 billion) None (750 million) None (500 million) -12 (450 million) -22 (450 million) -33 (225 million) -16 (200 million) -10 (235 million) -26 (190 million) -8 (160 million) -13

BLOOMBERG

OP6 THEEDGE SINGAPORE

| MAY 4, 2009

THE ASCOTT INTERVIEW

GUARDIAN
Gilles Hennessy is the eighth generation of the cognac houses founding family. As Mot Hennessy vice-president, he oversees the sales development of the luxury wine and spirits group and at the same time acts as custodian of the family legacy. He speaks to Jacqueline Toyad about the Hennessy heritage and the companys efforts to keep the brand relevant in the 21st century.
tribution network jointly owned by LVMH and Diageo plc. (The companys portfolio includes some of the worlds premium brands, such as Hennessy, Mot & Chandon, Dom Prignon, Johnnie Walker, Belvedere vodka and Glenmorangie whisky. The Riche Monde name is a recognised industry leader in Asia.) I meet Gilles one morning at Shangri-La Kuala Lumpur, one of the establishments in the city to feature Mot Hennessy products on their menus. He is a jolly fellow who greets me with a Bonjour mademoiselle before settling down to order his much needed rst coffee of the day. We start with some casual conversation with Riche Monde Malaysia managing director Frdric Noyere and Mot Hennessy Asia-Pacic regional director Wiboon Arunthanes joining in as a prelude to the interview. It is soon revealed that all three had been out until 3am visiting the latest KL hot spots and entertaining the local tradespeople and customers. A lot of our business is about listening to whats going on out there. You have to listen to your own people who are on the ground selling, meeting consumers and tradespeople. Its the only way to succeed. Talk to the trade, talk to the customers; it is only then that you get a feeling of whats going on, how you get to know what their preoccupations are. It is only then you can learn why things work or why they dont, what the expectations are, shares Gilles. Its true, at least in this part of the world, because our marketing people do go out it is still not practised in some countries and Im trying to push [our people] to go out and listen. Gilles adds that he truly enjoyed the night meeting people is one of the favourite parts of his job and he reveals that a lot of the conversation amid the revelry revolved around the current nancial crisis. Its quite difcult to say what effect the current economic environment has on Mot Hennessy. We havent felt too much the pinch of the system. Particularly in a country like Malaysia, we havent seen a drop in sales. But thats maybe because the economy is built a bit differently here, he muses. We joke for a bit that people will nd a reason to drink if the economy is bad or good and perhaps that is why there hasnt been a change in the brands gures. After some laughter, Gilles continues, I was talking to some business people last night and it seems that the banking system

The cognac

hen the light is just right, a bottle of Hennessy X.O lovingly named The Original by its maker and fans alike looks like glowing amber. As the light bounces off the grooves that shape the grape vines done in relief, it shimmers along the curvy silhouette of the acon. Made up of 100 different eaux-de-vie aged lovingly over decades and selected carefully by a master blender, the golden liquid calls to you invitingly to take a break from the daily rigours of life and relax with a glass of this bold cognac. The X.O is the most emblematic of Hennessy cognacs and symbolic of the elements that make up an object of luxury and desire time and craftsmanship. Indeed, in its 244 years as cognac maker, the House of Hennessy has taken the craft to another level with the launch of products like the Paradis and Richard Hennessy, which take advantage of the houses rich cellar composed of eaux-devie dating back to the days of its founder, Richard Hennessy. Following in the footsteps of his ancestors, Gilles Hennessy, the seventh generation after Richard, is one of the guardians of the family name and business, albeit through his capacity as vice-president of Mot Hennessy, the luxury wine and spirits group resulting from a merger between Hennessy and champagne producer Mot & Chandon back in 1971. In charge of sales development, Gilles contribution to Mot Hennessy includes driving the marketing and public-relations division of the company and launching the VSOP Fine Champagne in Japan in 1977. He was also appointed to the LVMH (Mot Hennessy Louis Vuitton) board of directors shortly after the luxury wine group joined forces with French luxury house Louis Vuitton in 1987. Gilles was recently in Asia on, in his own words, a quick little tour to basically keep contact with the troops on the ground. These are slightly more difcult times, he starts slowly as if choosing his words carefully to describe the current economic climate, so it is important to keep close contact with the team, to boost their morale. When times get a bit more difcult, they need to feel or think that the head ofce is still thinking of them. The them he refers to is the sales team at Riche Monde Malaysia, part of an extensive wine and spirits global dis-

is more protective here, trying to slow down a bit and being careful in their lending. The US, as always, is the rst one to get hit. We identied that in October and November 2007 when the crisis rst started. If you look back at history, the US will usually be the rst one to come out of it plus the fact that the Americans are always optimistic by nature. A lot of this is a consumer-condence crisis more than anything else. When the condence comes back, which it will because human nature is built that way, then things will start up again. After all, the economy is driven by consumer spending. Gilles coffee comes and the interview proper begins. Centuries-old history The Hennessy brand makes for an interesting study in marketing. At 244 years old, it has been labelled many things, pioneer and innovator among others, and it has given itself a few labels as well Hennessy, the name which made Cognac famous (in 1905) and The worlds largest stock of eaux-de-vie (1930). But no one foresaw its entry into popular culture who could? Cognac was a traditional drink, and Hennessy was a name of longstanding heritage, so who would have thought that in the 1990s, with the advent of rap music, urban poets such as Tupac Shakur, Mobb Deep, E-40 and Nas would mention Hennessy within their lyrics as a symbol of nally getting off the streets and making good. My enemies ip when they see me drink a fth of that Hennessy, said the late Tupac Shakur in a song entitled Hennessy off his Loyal to the Game album. I discuss this with Gilles who recalls, They adopted the brand we didnt actually do anything. Weve always been extremely close with the culture of the African Americans in the US. When all this rap and hip-hop stuff came out, Hennessy was already a big part of their lives. They adopted the brand and the Hennessy name naturally entered their songs. What weve done since then has been to build the Hennessy Artistry platform. Its running in over 50 countries right now and has been proven extremely successful. The big aim of any worldwide brand is to keep that brand contemporary. In some countries, the brand had become a bit old, which is dangerous because then a new generation passes it by. So the whole objective of our brands is to keep them contemporary. When we rst got wind of Hennessy

in hip-hop, I was delighted. You could understand that it was a new musical culture. Nowadays, people pay to be in the movies, a different thing altogether. Before, (James) Bond drank Dom Prignon because it was part of the scene. Now if you want someone to drink Dom Prignon, you have to pay. We have never paid to be in rap songs, which is why it worked so well. Then after a while, people copied that and paid to get in I wont name any names but Im sure you know them. It didnt work out for them the same way. You cant be perceived as marketing or it doesnt make a lasting impression. It might help to kick off a campaign but then itll die off because consumers will feel like theyre being bought. Consumers are much more discerning these days. If they feel theyre being

THEEDGE SINGAPORE | MAY 4, 2009 OP7

PATRICK GOH/THE EDGE MALAYSIA

targeted or marketed to, they move away. The Mot Hennessy group believes in two things: quality and presence. Its promotional activities mainly revolve around making its products relevant to its consumers lifestyle, people who appreciate the ner things in life. Gilles explains that it is only when you understand how the consumer lives that you are able to speak to them. The rebirth of the Glenmorangie brand is proof of Mot Hennessys winning formula. Long before Mot Hennessy acquired the whisky maker in 2007, the name Glenmorangie was familiar to a select few, mainly singlemalt acionados. They hardly left Scotland, leaving its distribution to agencies. Now that weve put them in the network, its a big change for them. Theyre coming out more these days, says Gilles. Thanks to LVMHs vast global network, the whisky house could now focus on moving its product and packaging into the 21st century, revamping the bottles and coming out with new innovative and rare whiskies. And in true Mot Hennessy style, Glenmorangie personalities, such as master distiller Dr Bill Lumsden, were made to travel the world, meet people and talk to them about its products. Gilles says, The consumer has to be educated, to be faced with the product, to be taught about the product. If hes never heard of it, hes not going to try it. You have to put the product in his hand, or in this case, put a glass in his hand and ask him to taste. Hopefully, he will like it and continue. He then shares a story of the iconic Hennessy X.O acon that was designed in 1947 by a cousin of mine, Grald de Geoffre. When it rst came out, people thought it was awful because it was the rst cognac bottle to be in a carafe shape, explains Gilles. The design was a shock to people and an outrage, he shares. Of course, today it has been copied by just about everyone and the bottle has become an icon. You have to be a bit innovative and provocative sometimes. Im sure there were a lot of people who were shocked when Murakami put his designs on a classic Vuitton bag. And now its lifted the brand and helped it a lot. Even when they came out with the Grafti, a lot of people were saying How could they do that? Brands need innovation. You have to be creative. Otherwise it becomes static, boring and old and then dies away. Its a calculated risk, with a risk

of failure, but if you make a mistake, you take it out and do something else. You move on. Today, were the leading name in champagne and cognac, not yet in whisky, but were working on it. We will take our time because its a question of stock too. To build up stock for the future, youve got to think of what youre selling in 10 years time. Forecasting is not easy and no matter what happens, youll always get it wrong, he quips. One way or another, your forecast will be too optimistic or pessimistic. But I think weve adapted pretty well. According to Gilles, the Hennessy brand is by far the leading brand with 42% worldwide market share. If you add up No 2, No 3 and No 4, we actually sell more than those three combined. It means we must have been doing something right somewhere along the way because if you go back to the mid-1970s, we were only No 3. Weve shot past the others and continued to grow. Ten million cases in one day is not unthinkable. When? Dont ask me, he laughs. My big belief is that we are not in the category game but in the brand game. We dont care about the cognac or whisky categories. I care about brands. If you can build a brand properly, there is no limit. As long as you dont fool around or make stupid mistakes, there is unlimited potential. Keep it moving, keep it contemporary, keep innovating Ill give you an example weve just launched a limited edition VSOP for [US President Barack] Obama, marked with the No 44. We released 150,000 bottles and it was gone in one day. That was our equivalent of the Murakami basically. Youve got to come up with new ideas, keep the brand alive. If you remain standing still, you might end up moving backwards. Starting at the bottom How do you sit with a man with a famous last name and not ask him about it? Naturally, I have to ask what it means to grow up with the Hennessy name. He smiles, ashing me a look that says, As if Ive never heard that one before. I never really got the proper answer to that one, he says. Its something I was born into and then I kind of moved into the business extremely naturally. Its what I wanted to do; its what I felt I could do. But as long as you start at the bottom and learn all the tricks of
CONTINUES ON PAGE 8

OP8 THEEDGE SINGAPORE

| MAY 4, 2009
PATRICK GOH/THE EDGE MALAYSIA

THE ASCOTT INTERVIEW

Case in point
In 1870, Maurice Hennessy took over the reins at the House of Hennessy. It is he who is credited with the creation of The Original X.O, the first extra-old cognac made with the blending of 100 eaux-de-vie with exceptional aromas. The recipe and preparation process of the emblematic cognac have remained unchanged since then, and has been safeguarded by a family of master blenders for nearly 150 years. The story of Hennessy is long and illustrious, beginning in 1765 when its founder Richard Hennessy, Maurices great-grandfather, established his trading company on the banks of the Charente river. Today, the Hennessy name enjoys universal acclaim, thanks to seven generations of Hennessy after Richard, all of whom inherited their ancestors entrepreneurial spirit. The House of Hennessy today has a reach far and wide, and historical documents show that it had trading links in Shanghai dating back to 1872. It was already a market leader back in the 19th century. In celebration of X.Os heritage, Hennessy has launched the Hennessy X.O Mathusalem where, for the first time, the X.O is presented in a six-litre decanter. Released as a limited edition, the decanter is presented in a travel suitcase, inspired by the Hennessy familys tireless travels over the centuries in their efforts to build the business. The suitcase is made from embossed lambskin in gunmetal grey, a metallic grey with moir glints. It is a sensual design with a contemporary silhouette and a finish that plays with light. Inside, the six-litre decanter retains the legendary flacon design of Grald de Geoffre, featuring the iconic grape branch in relief. The cap has also been enlarged and fashioned from the same embossed material to match the suitcase. Completing the Mathusalem is the Fusil an object used by the master blender to extract a sample of eaux-de-vie from the barrels, to taste and evaluate it. The rationale behind including it with this limited-edition set is that it symbolises the houses perpetual quest for excellence in the choice and ageing of its eaux-de-vie. To give it a contemporary appeal, the Fusil has been reinterpreted by French designer Marie-Virginie Berbet. She approaches design as a living matter receptive to the variations in its environment. Highly inspired by the world of art and architecture, Barbet is focused on creating objects and spaces suited to enhanced reactivity and adaptability to the different biological needs of the individual.

FROM PAGE 7

the trade, you will be able to manage. Gilles career at Hennessy began in 1971 with a two-year training course in the eaux-de-vie department with master blender Yann Fillioux. He rose up the ranks on his own merits rather than on his family name, telling me: If you try and start at the top, I dont think that works out too well, especially when youre young. When youre young, youre full of ideas and you think the old people are wrong. Then you learn over time that nothing is black or white. In our business, youve got to travel a lot to learn about the different markets because each market is fundamentally different. The attitudes are different, the consumption patterns are different. You learn the trade only by walking the streets. Gilles puts his success within the company down to arriving at the business at the right time. It was an exciting time a lot of new markets were emerging. It was a lot of fun opening up new markets in China, Taiwan, Vietnam, all of which we built from scratch. I mean, we did have a trading history in the early 20th century but it sort of disappeared. We came back in the early 1990s. However, Gilles admits that while he wasnt pushed to join the family business, the fact that he is in the business with his name, gives him a special responsibility to the brand. He also admits that it is special to have a cellar full of rare eaux-de-vie produced in the days of Richard Hennessy, that it is extremely rare and unique to have such a tangible (and tasty) connection to ones ancestors. He credits the Fillioux family, the clan given the task to blend Hennessy cognacs since 1800. In 1800, Jean Fillioux entered the House of Hennessy as master blender. His son, Christophe, took over in 1838. Since then, the position has been passed from father to son and nephew. Yann Fillioux, a seventh generation Fillioux, has been the master blender since 1991. Its extremely rare and unique to have such a tangible connection to ancestors. But that is what the Fillioux family has always managed to do keep the treasure. And its one of their goals, which Yann always states very clearly, I was lucky enough to inherit a vast stock of extremely old and rare cognacs. My duty is to pass on to the next generation the same or more. So they protect it as if it were museum treasure. But their job is to protect it, to develop it and pass it on again. It would be very easy to use it all up and

say, lets go to the next one and just let it go. Which is not the case. They actually keep, then build on it and make it last. That means that when were gone, the next generation will then inherit enough stock to be able to do what they want. Which is why weve been able to create all these products because all these stocks have been around, laid by his father, grandfather, great grandfather it is an extraordinary heritage. Extraordinary as the story is, it is one that can only be told once, says Gilles. A brand can have a good story but it cannot live off a good story alone. The product has to be of quality, something the Fillioux family has worked at all these years. You can fool the consumer once. But you dont fool him twice. If whats inside your luxury product is not top quality, he wont come back and youve lost him forever. So you cant cheat. You shouldnt. For Gilles, integrity is the most important element in business. Youve got to do business in a proper way, you have to look after your people. Hennessy DNA Gilles coffee cup is now empty and he appears to be a little more relaxed. He delves a little into his personal life, sharing that, now at 60, he is a proud father of four and grandfather of seven. None of his children are working for the company. One works in real estate, developing big projects in Morocco; another is designing perfumes By Kilian, also under the LVMH portfolio. I also have two girls one is a professor, teaching. All diverse. All leading their own lives... the entrepreneurial spirit is healthy and alive within all of them, says Gilles, adding that entrepreneurship is something unmistakably inherent in the Hennessy DNA. Richard Hennessy, the rst guy who came, Im sure he didnt really believe for one second that it was going to turn out this way. He was dealing with quite a few different things at the same time a merchant trader. There was a market for buying cognac and thats why he got into it. First, you take your orders, then you hunt for the cognac. Slowly, they started building warehouses, keeping their own, ageing their own. Truthfully, it was his son really who developed the

whole concept of turning it into a proper business. Since then, its moved on, with its ups and downs. There have been easy times and difcult times, but now its on the right track forever. In the end, it all boils down to people. If you have the right people heading these kinds of companies, it always works out well. If you have the wrong people and they make mistakes well, killing a brand is very easy and quick. Building a brand takes a long time; you can kill it in a couple of years. Kuala Lumpur is his last stop before heading home to France. And while Gilles admits that travelling is one of his most beloved perks of the job Love the travelling part. Sitting behind desk, you wont learn anything he does wish he had more time on his hands. I havent got any time at the moment. I usually play a lot of golf when I can, except this winter its been a real winter for once. So I have had no exercise whatsoever in the past months. No time even to sneak off for a golf game during market visits, which you could in the old days 20 years ago, when business was much easier. Then, you took a little bit more time travelling, everything was slower. Nowadays, everything is much faster. I

dont know if thats right or wrong, thats open for debate. Are we more efcient being quick doing too many things at a time? Maybe not. But thats what todays world commands. He does have time for books though, mainly novels and history books. Ive just nished a memoirs of sort its the entries of the notebook of Michle Cotta, a political journalist in France. She kept a kind of permanent diary its a big 700-page book. There have been two of them, and the third one is already coming out. So its all the political scene and the inside stories she never published before, including one-on-one interviews. I liked it because it was made up of what people were telling her, the political guys and off-the-record stuff. Its interesting to know what these guys were thinking and saying. Its a part of history and history for me has always been important because I think everything starts, comes and goes, and then starts again. You learn a lot from whats happened before. At the end of the day, E it all happens again. Jacqueline Toyad is a senior writer with the Options desk at The Edge Malaysia

A construct of beauty
proper begins.
The French believe that it is impossible to overdo luxury. As if to confirm this belief, renowned cognac maker Hennessy released its X.O Iridescence, a new expression of its legendary X.O decanter. It sees 82 Swarovski Elements crystals adorning the grape bunches that are a recognisable feature on the X.Os iconic glass house, presented in abrand gift box with gunmetal he Hennessy makes for an grey metallic glints, embellished with diamonds cut in trompe-loeil interesting study .in marketing. At Designed with the cognac lover in mind, works a decorative 244Iridescence years old, it as has been labelled and perhaps, conversation piece at festive dinners. Serving your guests a many things, pioneer and innovator among glass of the bold cognac from a bejewelled carafe a beautiful declaration of others, and it has is given itself a few labels your good taste and appreciation for luxury. as well Hennessy, the name which Iridescence belongs tomade the 2008/09 Exclusive Collection (in and pays Cognac famous 1905) and tribute to the astute founder of the house, Richard Hennessy, the man who The worlds largest stock of eaux-de-vie perfected the original X.O, the great-grandson of the founder, Maurice (1930). But no one foresaw its entry into Hennessy, and the man who designed the iconic decanter in 1947, Grald popular culture who could? Cognac was de Geoffre, who is alsoaMaurices nephew and Gilles Hennessys cousin. traditional drink, and Hennessy was a

name of longstanding heritage, so who would have thought that in the 1990s, with the advent of rap music, urban poets such as Tupac Shakur, Mobb Deep, E-40 and Nas would spout Hennessy within their lyrics as a symbol of them nally getting off the streets and making good. My enemies ip when they see me drink a fth of that Hennessy, said the late Tupac Shakur in a song entitled Hennessy off his Loyal to the Game album. I discuss this with Gilles who recalls,

THEEDGE SINGAPORE | MAY 4, 2009 OP9

13TH ANNUAL TOWER CLUB GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP

Corporate
Deals, along with friendships, will be made at the 13th Annual Tower Club Golf Championship

CLUB

f any event had staying power, it would be the Annual Tower Club Golf Championship, which is in its 13th year. So far, a total of 144 top corporate warriors have signed up for a game of good fun that will also see them bond and network with each other. The tournament will be held on the Tampines course at Tanah Merah Country Club on May 13. Amid the preparations for this event, Tower Clubs captain Charmayne Highfield-Goodwin takes time to answer some email questions from Options about this years event and the rising popularity of golf in Singapore. Options: What can we expect at the 13th running of Tower Club Golf Championship? Highfield-Goodwin: As always, there will be exciting golf, excellent food and great camaraderie at the Tower Clubs golf championship. Making a return is the highly anticipated Whisky on the Greens as the Tower Club teams up with Pernod Ricard Singapore for the second consecutive year. Golfers will have a chance to steady their nerves with a shot of Glenlivet 18-year-old single-malt whisky before making their shot at the Nearestto-the-Pin novelty event. This year, golf professionals from Swing Kings Golf Academy will be on hand to guide golfers through their swings to maximise their distance for the Longest-Drive novelty event. Golfers will also have the opportunity to test exclusive Titleist golf clubs, courtesy of Urban Fairways. Will this years competition be any different from the past years? This year, the prizes on offer are outstanding. Golfers will be vying for a record of four hole-in-one prizes: an Emirates Package of two return businessclass tickets to London, four nights accommodation and two tickets to an Arsenal match at Emirates Stadium; a Jaguar XF 3.0 Luxury from Malayan Motors; a Breilting Navitimer watch; and a Bulgari Diagono Chronograph watch Golfers will also compete for other fabulous prizes, from luxury brand names such as Zwiesel 1872, Molton Brown, accommodation at participating Millennium & Copthorne International Hotels, to a luxury cruise for two on board the Royal Caribbean cruise liner. The after-game dinner and awards ceremony will also be spectacular. The dinner and awards ceremony will be hosted in the Tower Clubs newly renovated Atlantic Dining Room. Executive chef Edward Voon and his team will delight your palete with sensational food and matching wines. Could you briefly describe your role in the tournament? The staff at the Tower Club has done a tremendous job getting everything organised, so all the accolades must go to them. There are many factors to consider when staging such a prestigious event, such as the loca-

tion, pricing, sponsorship, trophies and logistics, not to mention the important work that Tower Clubs staff does on the day of the championship. As committee members, we provide feedback and suggestions about various aspects of the event, but really, our job is very easy, thanks to the dedicated and hardworking Tower Club staff. Do you think such an event is viewed as especially needed at a time when all the news is about economic gloom? Events such as the Tower Clubs golf championship are a great way to lift spirits, particularly in these difficult times. Apart from the exciting golf, excellent food and great camaraderie, the Tower Clubs golf championship also allows members and guests to network, and these casual meetings can often generate great business possibilities and opportunities to help others. The economic climate varies from year to year, but friendships just get stronger, and that is what makes events like the Tower Clubs championship so popular. We understand that your husband was the one who got you started in golf? How did the passion for golf ignite in you? My passion is for the friendships formed through playing golf. Although I have a competitive nature, I use golf as a form of relaxation and for its social-networking opportunities. If golf was just an individual sport, then I probably wouldnt be so keen to play. What is your view of golf in Singapore? How do you think it is perceived? I believe golf is well organised in Singapore and more international events are being held here every year. High-profile events, such as the Barclays Singapore Open and the HSBC Womens Champions, show that Singapore is highly regarded as a great place to play golf. Both events also boast the highest prize money in Asia, which further highlights Singapores important role in golf. In addition to the professional events, Singapore also hosts a series of amateur events for men and ladies and has a well-developed junior programme. Singapore is a fantastic place to play golf either socially or competitively since it is sunny most days and has world-class facilities. How would you encourage more women to take up the sport? Although I dont have any hard figures, I think more ladies are already taking up golf each year, but that does not mean that more cannot be done. Last October, the Straits Times reported that the Ladies Professional Golf Association wants to expand its brand through Singapore because of its strategic location and, currently, Asian ladies dominate the top ranks of womens golf. This is great news for womens golf because of the additional media exposure, and potential new golfers get to see some exciting action as well as the feminine side of golf. E Golf is not just all muscle.

Highfield-Goodwin is passionate about the solid friendships that golf helps build

Programme highlights
11.30am Noon 1.30pm 6pm 7pm 7.30pm 9pm 10pm
Registration at golfing office, Tanah Merah Country Club (TMCC) Tampines Course Lunch gathering at TMCCs Garden Golfers Terrace All golfers must be in their buggies and lined-up by 12.55pm sharp Shotgun start, Garden Course Championship concludes Pre-dinner cocktail at Tower Club Singapore Pacific Lounge (Serving Glenlivet 18 years single-malt whiskey) Awards presentation dinner at Tower Club Singapore Atlantic Dining Room (Serving wines from Wyndham Estate) Awards presentation/acknowledgements Evening ends

Hole-in-one prizes
Two business-class tickets on Emirates (Singapore London Singapore), four nights of five-star hotel accommodation, including Millennium Hotel Mayfair London, and two tickets to Arsenal match at Emirates stadium Jaguar XF 3.0 Luxury Breitling Navitimer timepiece Bulgari Diagono Chronograph timepiece

Novelty prizes
Hole No 8 Hole No 2
Longest drive Golf professional from Urban Fairways will be present to guide participants at the tee box Nearest to pin (Men and Ladies) Nearest to Pin (Ladies) Glenlivet 18 years will be served on the greens between shots.

GWYNETH YEO/THE EDGE SINGAPORE

OP10 THEEDGE SINGAPORE

| MAY 4, 2009

DRIVE

olls-Royce is not a secretive car company if its experimental vehicles are any indication. The 100EX was the forerunner of the Phantom Drophead Coup, and the Phantom Coup was almost exactly a match for the 101EX. So, Rolls-Royce fans probably have a fair idea what the next model in the range will look like, if not its exact model name, thanks to the 200EX. This model represents a new chapter for the born-again Rolls-Royce marque, as it marks the companys entry into the smaller-car market. For now, it is known by its internal code name, RR4, or what the car magazines are calling the baby Rolls, and is scheduled for production in 2010. [At press time, it was announced that the RR4 would be called Ghost.] The name baby Rolls undersells the size of the 200EX somewhat: At 5,399mm long, it overshadows the 5,212mm of the long-wheelbase 7 Series BMW by a fair margin, and performance will not be baby either, as it will be equipped with a turbocharged V12 engine with more than 500bhp. Little wonder, then, that local customers are placing deposits. Tom Purves, CEO of Rolls-Motor Cars, tells Options about the car and the future of RollsRoyce. Options: Is RR4 a Bentley competitor? Tom Purves: My experience of many, many years is that you certainly win and lose customers, but they come to you for different reasons. For example, the transition between BMW and Mercedes-Benz; there arent many people who move either way, because you either like a sporty car or you like a quiet comfortable car. Certainly, in the case of Rolls-Royce, there are customers who buy Bentleys today to whom this car will appeal, because it is a more dynamic car. It definitely has greater physical proximity in terms of size to Bentley products. But it is an almost equal-pinnacle car and we really are in a different category from

Let the good

Tony Watts speaks to Tom Purves, CEO of Rolls-Motor Cars, on the occasion of the Southeast Asian preview of the Rolls-Royce 200EX
Bentley in how we go about building very individual cars for very individual people. Will we see other variants of RR4 as we did with Phantom Coup and Phantom Drophead Coup? Absolutely possible. We havent committed to anything at this point in time, but its logical that we can develop products from there, yes. Will there be alternative engine technologies too? The powertrain that we have is absolutely state-of-the-art. It is the latest 12-cylinder engine, unique for Rolls-Royce; it has turbochargers, produces over 500 horsepower, drives through what I think is the first eight-speed automatic in a passenger car, and that will help give it class-leading fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. We definitely want to be ahead of the game in terms of environmental sensitivity, and this car continues to do that. The use of alternative, or different, powertrains is absolutely possible for the future. We dont know whats going to happen. What we do know is that there will be other forms than pure gasoline. Our group is in a very good position, with its R&D investment, to be able to form the basis of a great Rolls-Royce product. Our customers are less bothered about whats under the bonnet than they are about the way it goes. Which leaves the options open? It leaves us absolutely wide open. I was asked a question in Europe: Would we build a diesel Rolls-Royce? The seamless torque that you get from a turbocharged diesel would be ideal for a Rolls-Royce, so in principle, yes, we could build a diesel Rolls-Royce. But then you look at where we sell these cars we sell them in the US, we sell them in the Middle East, we sell them in China. None of these are diesel markets, so it really doesnt make much sense for us to go down that route. RR4 is expected to double Rolls-Royce sales. Is that fair? Yes, thats more than fair. Last year, we had a record year, 20% ahead of the previous year; I think we sold 1,212 cars. Were in a position where we ought to be able to build a couple of thousand of these cars. If you think about it in very rough terms, we have a 3,000-unit business. We have spent substantial amounts of money on expanding our assembly areas our wood shop, our leather shop and so forth to be able to do this. And were excited about the opportunity.

Is there a limit to how many cars you can build? There is a physical limit. There is a human limit. Theyre built by machine, which makes sense, and theyre built by hand, which makes sense, and there is a physical limit to what we can do with the facilities weve got. Were building very refined cars, at very, very high cost, which means they have a high price, for a small group of people. Thats what were good at doing, thats what we want to do. It is more about quality than it is about quantity. But is there a numerical limit to production before the brand loses its lustre? You can ask that of not just Rolls-Royce, you can ask that of other brands as well, in terms of how volume affects the brand image. If you are offering a unique experience, and you cannot get that experience in any other product, then volume should not undermine your brand position. If youre offering something thats a bit me too, but youre dependent upon exclusivity in terms of small numbers as being the way you go to market, then obviously it could. In the case of RollsRoyce, there is very little that is a direct competitor. You just mentioned me too vehicles. Do you have a response to the Geely GE, which is a blatant Chinese copy of a Rolls-Royce? Somebody showed me this morning, and my response was that a copy is the most sincere form of flattery, but from the photographs it looks like a clear infringement to me, and I dont think thats particularly clever. Rolls-Royce sales, even in the US, seem to be holding up. Whats the secret? I dont think theres a particular secret; we have extremely good products. People should never forget that the car business has a long lead-time; decisions that were made seven years ago are influencing results today. I am fortunate to take over the baton of a lot of good de-

The Rolls-Royce 200EX represents a new chapter for the born-again marque, as it marks its entry into the smaller-car market

THEEDGE SINGAPORE | MAY 4, 2009 OP11

cisions. In an organisation like the automobile business, no one individual makes a huge difference. It is a team of individuals, and it is the ability to harness their competence and create a set of values that people can relate to that helps them follow the vision thats being described. Very often, with the successful car companies, nobody knows what the boss name is, other than the people in the company, because the car is more important than the individual. The organisation is more important than the individual. How are the current sales figures? Worldwide the numbers are about 6.5% ahead of where they were last February. We have seen some softness in quite a lot of world markets and demand is less than it was. So, I expect that well still have a first-class year in comparison with any of our competitors. But, Im cautious going forward. This is not a time when we are cheering that we are 6% ahead; this is a tough environment for everybody.
Purves: Our customers are less bothered about whats under the bonnet than they are about the way it goes

Royce at Crewe in the late 1960s. That was a great grounding because there were very few car companies where almost everything was done under one roof. And this gave you the opportunity as a trainee to experience different parts of the car business. I was also fortunate to find that sales appealed to me to a greater extent than engineering. I spent 19 years at Rolls-Royce, I lived in Switzerland, I lived in Kuwait, and I returned after 10 years overseas to the UK in the early 1980s to be the sales director for the UK. My decision to join BMW when they came along and offered me an opportunity proved to be a very good one, because I have now worked for them for 24 years and find myself back in the RollsRoyce business. What do you have in the garage? I have a 1976 BMW R90 S motorcycle. It was the first performance BMW that had been built more or less since the very early 1950s. And I have company cars, and there will be a time when I have some other cars myself, but at the moment I dont have time to enjoy the motorcycle, let alone a vintage car. Any particular cars you desire? What are my dream cars? There are several of them. A Rolls-Royce Phantom II Continental would probably be the first choice. Maybe a BMW 328 would be a second choice. And then probably a Jaguar E-Type, or a D-Type. If I could afford a real D Type, E that would be a car Id like to have. Tony Watts is a freelance writer with a passion for fast cars and bikes

In these times, are people wary of conspicuous consumption under which one may categorise the purchase of a Rolls-Royce? I would accept that thats true. The purchase of a Rolls-Royce, however, is a long-term decision. And our customers are somewhat insulated economically, even if they are not immune, obviously. What Ive seen is more of a tendency for people to postpone a decision than for people to walk away from a purchase. Working with Rolls-Royce is fascinating

because we can go back with statistics to 1904, and you can track what happens through recessions and depressions. You can see that, traditionally, Rolls-Royce has done reasonably well in the first year of a downturn, because it is working from an order bank and those customers dont want to walk away from a car theyve ordered specifically. The second year is tougher, which is also why Im not shouting about 2009. We have to be sensible about that.

Where, geographically, do you see growth? I know its a challenging time, but I do think that emerging markets will be substantial markets of the future. The US remains the No 1 market, though, for luxury car manufacturers. You took over as CEO last July but it is a return to the company for you you started your career at Rolls-Royce. I did my original apprenticeship at Rolls-

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OP12 THEEDGE SINGAPORE

| MAY 4, 2009

DINE OUT

Wait four minutes to drink tea to avoid cancer

| BY ALBERTINA TORSOLI |

The dcor suggests an old, rustic charm, with plush antiquated couches and high tables sporting simple, raw-wood finishing

GOURMET pub grub

I
s pub grub all about oily fish and chips in a smoke-filled room? Not at The Queen & Mangosteen. Located on the ground floor of VivoCity, this 3,200 sq ft UK gourmet pub looks out onto a spectacular waterfront view of the upcoming Resorts World at Sentosa. The owners, who are also behind The Pump Room and The Highlander Bar, chose the word queen for its name to connote a quintessentially British experience. Pair that with the old rumour that Queen Victorias favourite fruit was the mangosteen and you have a name that makes for an interesting conversation starter. The dcor, too, suggests an old, rustic charm, with its plush antiquated couches and high tables sporting simple, raw-wood finishing. Youll also be amused

Felix Cheong gets a taste of traditional English pub food with a modern twist

by quirky touches all THE QUEEN & MANGOSTEEN around the premises, such as little hooks 01-106/107, VivoCity along the side of the Opening hours: Sunday to Thursday (11am bar counter for ladies to midnight); Friday, Saturday and eve of public to hang their bags, the holiday (11am to 1am) toilet cheekily called Tel : 6376 9384 The Royal Wee, deliberately mismatched cutlery and retro music from the which tied up with The Queen & 1960s to 1980s. And, no, theres Mangosteen to offer its signature no plasma TV here for catching craft beers such as Archipelago the latest English Premiere League Straits Pale, Travellers Wheat, action. The Queen & Mangosteen Saison Sayang and Archipelago is all about hanging loose with Samui. Also on tap are two new friends for a chat. brews, Aspara Lager and IslandStart your meal with the icon- er Indian Pale ale. ic UK cocktail, Pimms and lemThe alcohol will surely go onade ($10 by the glass, $35 per down well with the choice bites jug). This refreshing summer that carry a dash of Asian flavour. concoction consists of Pimms, For instance, the Spicy Minced a gin-based alcohol, lemonade Beef with Thai Basil and Birds Eye and cubes of strawberry and Chilli is served with warm corn cucumber. You can also order a chips and sour cream ($12). This mug from Archipelago Brewery, East-flirts-with-West spin is also seen in the Fish and Chips, which comes with curry tartare sauce ($12). Crispy on the outside, still juicy on the inside, the bite-size fish is not at all oily and makes you feel you could eat more. If so, give two of the mains a go. For the Crayfish Cooked in Beer with Chips and Lemongrass Aioli ($20), you need to roll up your sleeves, peel the crayfish and dip it in the aioli for added zing. The Bangers and Mash with Caramelised Onion Gravy ($24) is worth a try too. The sausages, both beef and pork, are soft, slightly peppery, not too salty and find their counterpoint in the mash made fragrant by the gravy. Round off your dining experience with a single scoop of Kaiti Fig and Honey Ice-cream ($4). Yes, gourmet pub food is not E an oxymoron after all. Felix Cheong is a published author and poet

ou may want to wait four minutes before sipping your next cup of tea. Drinking tea that is very hot can raise the risk of cancer of the esophagus, the muscular tube that carries food and liquids from the throat to the stomach, according to a study just published by the British Medical Journal (BMJ). Its not tea per se, its really the temperature at which the beverage is drunk, says Paolo Boffetta, group head and cluster coordinator at the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) in Lyon, France, in a video released by BMJ on the web. Scientists set out to investigate why the Golestan province in northern Iran has one of the worlds highest rates of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, the most common kind of tumours of the esophagus. Locals dont use much tobacco or alcohol, the main cause for such cancers in Europe and the US. They do drink tea at temperatures that often exceed 70C, the researchers say. Compared with drinking the beverage at least four minutes after being poured, drinking tea less than two minutes after pouring was associated with a fivefold higher risk of esophageal cancer, according to the findings. Likewise, drinking very hot tea 70C or more was associated with an eightfold increased risk, the study shows. This has the potential to save lives, says Boffetta. Cancers of the esophagus kill more than 500,000 people around the world every year, the researchers say, citing statistics from the IARC and the American Cancer Society. In Iran, this is going to be of major importance because they can intervene on the spot, and its not just in Iran that people drink a lot of hot tea, says Nick Day, professor of epidemiology at the University of Cambridge, in the video. The authors of the report investigated the drinking habits of 300 people diagnosed with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and a matched group of 571 healthy people from the same area. Almost all participants drank black tea regularly, with an average volume consumed of more than one litre a day. The study shows no link between the amount of tea consumed and risk of cancer. Previous studies have pointed to possible benefits derived from sipping the beverage. Green tea was suggested as a treatment for diabetes more than 70 years ago. Other studies have shown possible benefits of green tea in cancer and heart disease prevention. Still, better to wait until it cools down a bit before taking the first sip. Previous studies from the UK have reported an average temperature preference of 56C to 60C among healthy E people, the researchers say. Bloomberg LP

The Bangers and Mash with Caramelised Onion Gravy is worth a try