Philippine British Business Council

Agribusiness

Information Technology & BPO

Retail

©2009 PBBC

Chairmen  & Subcommittee co-chairmen

The committee consists of a Chairman in each of the countries and sub-committee co-chairmen in each  of the areas the committee considers as fruitful areas of  co-operation.

The current sub-committees consist of :

Agribusiness

Information Technology and BPO

Retail

The Chairmen in each of the countries is shown below.

Martyn Skinner

From 1971 to 2000 worked for Tate & Lyle Group in a range of transport, trading and market analysis roles prior to joining a small team seeking to identify and develop investment opportunities in the sugar industry in South East Asia.  A visit to Vietnam in 1992 identified one such opportunity and subsequently working as Project Manager this was progressed into a major investment in rural Northern Vietnam. This Joint Venture operation is now widely recognised as the most successful in the agricultural sector. Similar opportunities were developed in several parts of the Philippines. During this time work was also undertaken in China, India and Thailand and visits made to most countries in Region.

Between 2000 and 2007 was Trade & Investment Advisor with the UK Government’s Department of Trade and Industry for the Philippines and Vietnam, initially on a full-time seconded basis but for the last two years as a part-time independent consultant. The key roles throughout were to advise the Government on trade policies and provide assistance to companies regarding trade and investment opportunities, especially those seeking to develop a presence in Asian markets. During this time and based on the experience and understanding gained over almost 30 years, This entailed working with numerous UK companies in a wide range of sectors providing both detailed market guidance as well as input on broader issues such as business relationships and culture..

Since 2005 have developed an independent consultancy service specializing in South East Asian markets, notably the Philippines and Vietnam, providing a range of business services including market awareness and business opportunities. This work is varied and ranges from providing “in-depth” country briefings to senior staff prior to them taking up appointments in the region, to advising and assisting companies when seeking to develop a presence in the markets. I also advise companies operating in the agricultural sector, frequently with links to the sugar industry in South East Asia.

Since 2001 have been Co-Chairman of the Agribusiness sub-committee.

Among outside interests, is a Non Executive Board member of Bird College.

Manny Silverman

Manny Silverman has spent his entire career in the retail sector of the fashion/clothing industry, and has considerable experience at a senior level in most aspects of the business. Having joined Moss Bros as an apprentice in 1946 he went on to hold a number of senior positions in the group, becoming Chief Executive from 1980 to 1987. He subsequently he became a shareholder and Executive Chairman of Norman Hartnell Ltd, the Royal Couturiers to H M The Queen and H M The Queen Mother, and in 1992 formed his own retail consultancy/advisory practise, Silverman Associates.

The practise has built a diverse client list within a number of sectors with large and small organisations and retailers from both the public and private sector including, Scottish Enterprise, the Welsh Development Agency, EXPROM-Polish Chamber of Commerce, UN Miller Freeman plc, Panther Group plc, the Victoria &Albert Museum, the National Maritime Museum, Hardy Amies plc, Greenwoods Ltd and of others including a number of members of the British Shops and Stores Association and is a former member of the British Fashion Council.

He is also a member of the Academy of Experts and has acted as an Expert Witness since 1995, producing reports and giving evidence in court on a broad range of issues relating to the retail/fashion and accessory sectors, including retailing, manufacturing, retail property, branding, licensing, design/copyright infringement and counterfeiting and has appeared in a number of High Court actions.

He became involved with the Philippines following their Government’s Retail Liberalisation Act when chaired the “Quality Britain” retail conference on behalf of British Trade International and is a member and co-chair of Retail/Consumer Goods Sector Group of the Philippines, Singapore and Indonesian British Business Councils

and been a keynote speaker at both the Philippine Retailers Association ASEAN National Retailers and the ASEAN Region/Singapore Retailers Association Conferences.

Outside the industry, he is a Freeman of the City of London and a Past Master of the Worshipful Company of Glovers of London.  

Alistair Fulton

From 1971 to 1988 worked for several software development companies developing, managing and selling IT projects. Companies were in the Health, Government, Defence and telecommunications sectors.

Founding Managing Director of the Triad Group Plc in 1988 and CEO responsible for the growth of the business from start-up to a London Stock Market listing in March 1996. During this period Triad was one of a select few companies to win The Holway Boring Award in recognition of unbroken profits growth. He was non-executive Chairman from 1997 to 1999 and since 1999 senior non-executive Director.

Triad Group Plc is a major IT Consultancy, Software Developer and Resource Provider in the Finance, Telecommunications, Banking, Outsourcing, Call Centre and IT Supply sectors. The business has a turnover of approximately £50 million generated mainly in the UK and now provides Saas services under the Zubed.com brand.

President of the Computing Services and Software Association (CSSA) 2000-2001 and Chairman of their International Business Council from 1999 to 2006. CSSA merged in 2001 with the Federation of Electronics Industries (FEI) to form Intellect and is the UK Trade Association for the IT sector, representing over 750 companies. An elected Board member and non-executive Director from 1995 to 2007(originally of CSSA, now Intellect).

From 1999 to present represents the UK IT industry on the Philippines and Singapore British Business Councils.

Chairman of ITW Networks which is an experience-sharing, advisory and communications company.

Experienced coach and non-executive director of a small number of early stage companies.

Nigel Rich

Nigel Rich has been Co-Chairman of  the Philippine British Business Council since 2001.  He was with the Jardine Matheson Group in Asia for 20 years and Chief Executive from 1988 to 1994.  From 1977-1982, he was Executive Vice President and a Director of Jardine Davies in Manila.  During his term in the Philippines, he was a founder member of the YPO Philippines Chapter and was President of the European Chamber of Commerce.  He was also made an adopted native son of San Carlos City, Negros Occidental.  

He is Chairman of SEGRO plc and   Xchanging plc and is also on the Board of  Bank of Philippine Islands (Europe) plc, Matheson & Co., Ltd, Pacific Assets Trust plc and Castle Asia Alternative PCC Ltd.