Christmas Gathering with a good cheer

André Heinz, Sustainable Technology Capital with Berit Salheim, Managing Director, AmCham Sweden. André is the Chairman of the new Green AmCham Committee.

The media was largerly focused on what people were wearing at the Nobel dinner across town on the evening of December 10th, the AmCham network was making merry at the Hilton Hotel at Slussen.

We can’t report on what people ate and drank, or who met whom, but there was time for a bit of news. Richard Marston, managing director of MTG Radio and vice chairman of the AmCham Board, announced that the "One Big Thing" project, focused on alternative energy and initiated by U.S. Ambassador Michael Wood, would be continued under an AmCham committee to be chaired by Andre Heinz, Sustainable Technology Capital and member of the AmCham Board.

Despite hard times for some, no one had a glum face that evening. The informal award for joke of the evening went to Mats Caneman, general manager Scandinavia at Walt Disney Studio Home Entertainment, one of the evening’s sponsors, who told us how to read a balance sheet: "It’s easy. On the left, nothing is right. And on the right, nothing is left!", the U.S. consul, reminded us of the new visa waiver program coming into play on January 12. Swedes who wish to travel to the U.S. can register online at www.usemb.se for the new Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA). This will be required for Swedes before boarding an airplane or cruise ship bound for the US. American citizens are not affected. See more information on the last page of our december newsletter.

Amidst all the festivities and announcements, there were also prizes! One of our members of Mercuri Urval was the happy winner of a weekend trip to Sälens Högfjällshotell, presented by Anders Bjernulf, sales manager there. And a member from Burson-Marsteller landed a trip to New York on Continental Airlines, presented by Robin Schoug who is their sales manager in Sweden. Congratulations and happy traveling to both winners!

And we hope to see YOU next year at our events and get togethers!

Written by Robbin Battison, Battison & Partners

Photos by Rob Nelson

 
Robert Silverman, DCM, U.S. Embassy, Ulf Gärde, Attorney-at-Law ,
Gärde Wesslau Advokatbyrå, Frank Carrico, Regional Senior Commercial
Officer and Catharina Kronström, Senior Commercial Advisor from the U.S.
Embassy, and Lena Johansson, Director General, Kommerskollegium

Richard Marston, CEO, MTG Radio and Vice Chairman of the AmCham
Board with Gunnar Hesse, member of the AmCham Board.

Anders Ahnlid, Director-General for Trade, Ministry for Foreign Affairs
and Ulf Pehrsson, Vice President, LM Ericsson