Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/228261
42 Events maltatoday, SUNDAY, 15 DECEMBER 2013 European sales: Mazda sustains swift pace of growth Another month, another blistering increase in vehicle sales: Mazda did it again in November, posting a 40% rise over the same month in 2012, even as the overall market in Europe continued to contract. A shining star against the backdrop of a European passenger car market heading for its sixth consecutive year of decline, sales of Mazda vehicles are now up 18% for the year to date. That was good for a market share of above 1.2% during the first 11 months of 2013, a significant gain compared to 2012. The company achieved healthy gains in all major markets, outperforming the industry by a wide margin virtually everywhere. Mazda's award winning new-generation models continue to lead the way: The unconventional combination of their ultra-efficient SKYACTIV Technology and eyecatching KODO – Soul of Motion designs is proving to be a real winner. And the Mazda6 and Mazda CX-5 have now been joined by the all-new Mazda3. The Europewide rollout of the latest edition of Mazda's all-time bestseller began in October and will continue into the first quarter of the new year. ]SUBHEAD[ GasanZammit Motors Ltd With its centre located at the state-of-the-art premises in Mriehel, GasanZammit Motors Ltd, Kinnie hits the shelves with limited edition Christmas packaging As part of the Kinnie 'Taste' campaign and initiatives launched earlier this year, Simonds Farsons Cisk plc has recently launched new limited edition packaging for the 50cl bottle of this flagship brand to coincide with the festive period. Featuring a full-wrap sporting fun Christmas-themed visuals and messages in keeping with the cam- paign, this limited-edition bottle is sure to appeal to fun-loving consumers across all ages. Different and unique in nature, Kinnie, often referred to as Malta's unique favourite soft drink, has always been on the forefront with packaging and flavour innovations, retaining its appeal throughout the years. From left to right: HSBC Bank Malta CEO Mark Watkinson, Island Hotels Group Holdings PLC CEO Winston J. Zahra, Air Malta COO Phillips Saunders, and Simonds Farsons Cisk CFO Charles Xuereb leading an inter-company panel discussion the large-scale challenges facing businesses in Malta today, as well as to share best practice tips and techniques for addressing change to build on success stories. The aim of the development programme was to bring together a number of talented leaders from the different successful companies and market sectors within the local scenario to help participants gain a better understanding of changes taking place in different organisations and their role within the context of a challenging ever-changing work environment. "Businesses must be quick to adapt in today's fast-paced chang- YOUR FIRST CLICK OF THE DAY www.maltatoday.com.mt an array of manufacturer-specific computerised systems. These systems comprise of engine diagnosis and fault-finding apparatus, brake testers, wheel balancing systems and more. Other departments encompassing GasanZammit, are a body and spray shop and a fully stocked parts department responsible for the sourcing, purchasing and wholesaling of original vehicle parts and accessories for all the marques represented. ALIVE 2013 raised funds to benefit breast cancer research Business leaders share views in HSBC Malta networking event Business leaders from prominent Maltese businesses recently got together for an inter-company leadership development programme, called 'Crossover', organised by HSBC Bank Malta together with Island Hotels, Farsons Group, Air Malta and Ernst & Young. The inter-company seminar's panel, formed by Mark Watkinson, the Bank's CEO, Winston J. Zahra, CEO of Island Hotels Group Holdings PLC, Phillips Saunders, COO at Air Malta Company and Charles Xuereb, CFO at Simonds Farsons Cisk, met with the participants at the Radisson Blu Resort, Golden Sands, to discuss and shed light on the newly merged automotive and marine company, sets standards within its industry with a portfolio of world renowned brands namely, Capelli, Chevrolet, Ford, Honda, Isuzu, Jaguar, Mazda, Volvo and Yamaha. Housing an impressive nine brands that cover the automotive and marine sectors, the new GasanZammit facility in Mriehel is supported by a fully equipped and modern vehicle servicing centre, which includes ing world," said HSBC's CEO Mark Watkinson, who championed this programme. "Consumer behaviour patterns are evolving, and, as business leaders, we must be ready and sensitive to their changing requests. To stay ahead, we must be comfortable with change, flexible to adapt, while keeping an ear to the ground for what is to come in the future." The programme was also aimed at increasing participant's commercial awareness of how other businesses in Malta operate and what makes them so successful in addressing change-related issues. During the programme, participants were provided with the opportunity to network with external professionals, who could help them to better understand the importance of their role within an organisation's rising need to address on-going changes in an increasingly dynamic marketplace. The Malta Airport ALIVE 2013 Cycling Challenge for Cancer donated €55,000 to the ABCF, which will benefit a breast cancer research project, facilitated by the RIDT of the University of Malta. In picture (from left) RIDT CEO Wilfred Kenely, Prof Christian Scerri, Prof Juanito Camilleri, Esther Sant, Prime Minister's wife Michelle Muscat, Nicky Camilleri and Markus Klaushofer together with ALIVE cyclists Thirty-eight adventurous cyclists, forming part of the ALIVE Charity Foundation, are donating the initial sum of €55,000 today, to benefit a breast cancer research project, facilitated by the Research, Innovation and Development Trust (RIDT) of the University of Malta. The charity ride project, called Malta Airport ALIVE 2013 Cycling Challenge for Cancer, covered a distance of 820 kilometres from London to Brussels and onwards to Paris last July. ALIVE Charity Foundation Chairperson Nicky Camilleri together with Esther Sant, chairperson of Action for Breast Cancer Foundation (ABCF), a lobby group working for breast awareness and for better service and treatment of breast cancer patients, presented the donation to Professor Juanito Camilleri, Rector of the University of Malta and Chairperson of RIDT, at the Malta International Airport. "The Malta Airport ALIVE 2013 Cycling Challenge for Cancer was our first concerted initiative with ABCF and the RIDT. It was specifically dedicated to raising awareness on breast cancer and to raise funds for such a worthy cause. From the launch, we immediately received positive support from a number of helpers and generous sponsors, in particular Malta International Airport, whom we sincerely thank. They were a source of tremendous courage to keep us working and training for the charity ride," said Nicky Camilleri. "For us, today is very special and mostly rewarding day to be able to contribute to a cause that is of concern to all people in Malta." "This was the last wish of our dear co-foundress Helen Muscat to see that ALIVE's mission and money is being passed on for further research in breast cancer in Malta with the aim that breast cancer patients would potentially benefit from the continous improvement in patient treatment," said Ms Sant. "Our heartfelt thanks go to all ALIVE cyclists and members who shared their time and resources to raise money to bring this initiative to fruition." On receiving the donation, Professor Juanito Camilleri explained that "the money will go towards a specialised programme with the aim to unravel the genetics of the Maltese population in order to ensure improvement in survival rates of cancer patients. With this money, the University of Malta will sustain the crucial scientific research in breast cancer for the coming years. This will lead to mid and long-term benefits for the Maltese society." Malta International Airport's, Chief Executive Officer Markus Klaushofer, said: "It's a great honour for us, to be part of this noble cause. We are proud to have supported Alive Charity Foundation in their first cause" The CEO thanked all those that gave a donation, including Malta Airport's employees. The money will benefit a PhD science student in breast cancer research under the tutorship of Professor Christian Scerri at the University of Malta and in collaboration with Mater Dei Hospital. ALIVE 2013 has drawn up an audited financial report of the event which is available to the public. ALIVE 2013 was sponsored by Malta International Airport and supported by the National Lotteries Good Causes Fund, QuickFocus.com part of 6PM Group, Impressions Print Possibilities, SpringBox Media and Garmin Malta. Other community sponsors include BUFF Malta, B&G Hardware Store, Falzon Group of Companies, ROCS Group, Express Group, UVIA, Atlas Insurance and Billiet.