WorldCity Business Magazine

WorldCity People

by Joachim Bamrud

Changes at Kroll Miami and NYC

Kroll Associates, the U.S. investigations company, has named Sam Anson to head its Miami office. Meanwhile, Andrs Antonius has been promoted to head the firm’s business intelligence and investigation services worldwide, reporting directly to Kroll Chief Executive Simon Freakley.

Prior to his latest appointment, Anson was a director of Kroll’s Los Angeles office, where he handled a wide range of investigations. These included several relating to Latin America, especially Mexico and Colombia, but also Panama and Venezuela.

Anson, a native of Los Angeles and recipient of the 1996 Los Angeles Press Club Award for Investigative Journalism, worked as a freelance investigative reporter for a number of local and national outlets, including LA Weekly, Dateline, Fox News, The Nation and the Sacramento Bee before joining Kroll four years ago.

He considers building and expanding the LA team as his greatest achievement and hopes to expand the Miami office as well. “My main goal is to build upon the success and good work the people in Miami have done in the past,” he says. Anson succeeds Bruce Goslin, who was recently appointed to the new position as Kroll’s country manager for Spain.

Apart from expanding Kroll’s business the coming year, Anson hopes to get to know Miami a little better. “I’m looking forward to getting to know the city,” he says. “I’ve spent a little time here only on business trips.”

In his new position,Antonius will oversee the direction and operations of Kroll’s business intelligence and investigation services throughout North America, Latin America, Europe and Asia. He will continue to be based at Kroll’s corporate headquarters in New York and continue as head of the firm’s Latin America & Caribbean Region, a position he has held since May 2004.

Antonius, a native of Mexico and former undersecretary for energy policy at the ministry of energy in the Zedillo administration, also served as policy adviser to the undersecretary for planning at the ministry of agriculture and water resources, where he led the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) negotiations on sugar.

Crowley* promote Clapp and Artiga*

Crowley Maritime Corporation has announced two key Latin America-related appointments.

Jacksonville-based Crowley Liner Services promoted Rob Clapp to vice president of pricing and yield management for the company’s Latin America liner services group. Clapp, who joined Crowley in 1988 in the corporate accounting department, assumed the position of director of finance for Latin America in 1999, and in February 2004, transferred to director of pricing for that group.

Prior to Crowley, Clapp worked for George Washington Corporation as a staff accountant. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration majoring in accounting from Jacksonville University.

Meanwhile, Crowley Logistics – also based in Jacksonville – promoted Mihuel Artiga to the position of vice president for sales and marketing. Artiga, who will continue to be based in Guatemala, will be responsible for all marketing and sales activities for the logistics group in both Central America and the United States.

Prior to his promotion, Artiga served as general manager in Guatemala for Crowley’s liner services group. He joined Crowley in 1988 in El Salvador and has held various positions in sales and general management for Crowley in Ecuador, Honduras and Guatemala. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from Universidad Politcnica, El Salvador.

ERA honors Bruckheim, Fox, others

Miami was the venue for the first Latino Awards of Excellence organized by the Washington-based trade group Electronic Retailing Association (ERA). The awards, held in conjunction with ERA’s Mid-Winter Conference and Trade EXPO in Miami Beach, focused exclusively on the best representatives for the direct response industry from the Latin American and U.S. Hispanic marketplace.

Stan Bruckheim, managing director for Laguna Hills, Calif.-based PanLatino TV, won the category “Biggest Contribution to the Industry, 2004” while Miami-based Fox International was honored for Best service from a media network.

Bogota-based Intermarketing Express for a spot on Molding Control won in the category Best overall Latin American long form show, while the award for the best short form spot went to Quitosbased Tventas-Ecuador for a spot on Te Chino Dr. Ming.

The winner of the category for best overall U.S. Hispanic short form spot were Los Angeles-based Lexicon Marketing, Inc. for a spot on Ingls Sin Barreras – Gato Bilinge.

Fairfiled, NJ-based Tristar Products and Mexico Citybased Premiere Exclusives received the award for the best overall adapted show or spot for a spot on Power Juicer, while Toronto-based Thane Direct became the winner of the category for the best service from a product supplier.

Mexico City-based Premiere Exclusives web site (www.premieredirect.tv) were named best in support of DRTV. A panel of 12 industry experts judged more than 70 entries.

Tirado new general counsel for Tyco

Armando J. Tirado, who until recently held the position of director and regional counsel in the Latin America Division of Ingram Micro, has been appointed general counsel for the Latin America and Caribbean operations of Tyco International, Ltd.

Tirado, a native of Venezuela, recently worked as regional counsel, FedEx Express, and vice president, Legal and Regulatory Affairs, for DHL Worldwide Express. He also served as the first Chief Legal Officer of InterAmericas Communications, an emerging telecommunications company, later renamed FirstCom Corporation.

Tirado has been involved in efforts to create e-commerce legislation in the Americas and serves as member of the steering committee sponsored by the Organization of American States and the National Law Center for Inter American Free Trade to develop uniform guidelines for laws that promote e-commerce.

Tirado has an LL.B. degree from the Catholic University Andres Bello in Caracas, a law degree from Tulane University School of Law and an LL.M from Columbia University. In addition, he received a Masters degree from London School of Economics and Political Science, specializing in international business and finance.

Miller selected managing partner

Akerman Senterfitt has selected James M. Miller, the chairman of its Miami litigation practice group, as the new managing shareholder for the Miami office. His new duties will include overseeing more than 144 attorneys.

Miller is a prominent attorney whose client roster includes then-Dade county State Attorney Janet Reno, in a federal civil rights case and the former chief lending officer of Sunrise Savings and Loan Association in one of the largest savings and loan failures in U.S. history.

Miller, who has a degree from the University of Chicago Law School, replaces Robert A. Zinn who was recently named Chief Operating Shareholder for Akerman Senterfitt.

Sheraton Miami Mart names GM

Alan J. Cristantiello was named general manager of the Sheraton Miami Mart Hotel, formerly known as the Radisson Miami Mart Hotel and Convention Center.

Prior to his new position, Cristantiello served as general manager for the Sheraton Miami-Biscayne Bay. His 27-year hospitality career also includes other positions throughout South Florida, as well as Atlanta, New Orleans and New York, with companies such as Hilton Hotels and Merv Griffin Hotels.

Gross heads up new e-business unit

Bradley J. Gross, an attorney with the Florida-based international law firm Becker & Poliakoff, P.A, has been promoted to head up the company’s new e-Business and Digital Content Practice Group. The group will combine expertise in information management technology, licensing and rights management, and focus on a broad range of clients

Prior to joining Becker & Poliakoff five years ago, Gross served as assistant State attorney in Miami- Dade County’s Economic Crimes Division and as an assistant District attorney in the Office of the District Attorney in Nassau County, New York. In both jobs specialized in technology crimes.

Gross, a former technology law correspondent for NBC TV, earned a law degree from the Hofstra University of Law, and a Bachlor of Arts degree from the State University of New York in 1990.

Jarema joins Jones Lang LaSalle

U.S.-British real estate giant Jones Lang LaSalle hired John Lawrence Jarema as South Florida leasing director and vice president in the Leasing and Management Group. New business development as well as sharing leasing responsibilities for 701 Brickell will be among his duties.

Prior to joining Jones Lang LaSalle, Jarema served as vice president of leasing for Portman Holdings in Atlanta, where he marketed buildings such as the Sun Trust Plaza and the SunTrust Plaza Garden Offices.

Jarema, a graduate of University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, will be based in Miami and report to international director Christopher J.Wasko.

Shippin’ and groovin’ to a rock n roll beat

Hollywood actors Keanu Reeves and Kevin Bacon aren’t the only ones who moonlight as musicians.Robert Barcelo, Jr., who works as the office and sales manager of the Miami office of Korea-based Hanjin Shipping Co., Ltd is also the drummer of Ana Kanpa, a band specializing in melodic rock and a frequent attraction at Miami- Dade bars like Tobacco Road, Titanic Brewery, Luna Star Caf and Wallflower Gallery.

Barcelo has been playing for several local bands the past several years as a way of blowing steam, he says. For a sample of Ana Kanpa’s music, visit their web site at www.myspace.com/anakanpa.