HBS MEMORIES 0: FRIENDS AND PARTNERS

HBS MEMORIES 2012: FRIENDS AND PARTNERS - 20/12/2012 The role of Liaison Manager in a new FIFA World Cup host country is to make first contact, to build relationships, to ease HBS' transition into the new environment and to permanently maintain a smooth working relationship with the LOC. For Christine Morel this past year has been one in which much progress has been made in Brazil, both in terms of HBS' 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil project and in the forging of partnerships and friendships that will ensure the HBS project is a resounding success in 18 months time.

HBS Liaison Manager Christine Morel, second from right, enjoys the atmosphere at the LOC Christmas party in Rio. Her companions, from the left, areLOCGeneral Manager of Broadcast Michele Naili, Communications Director Saint-Clair Milesi,Joana Havelange, in charge of Strategic Planning and Support for Operations Executive Director,andCEO Ricardo Trade

CHRISTINE MOREL

Since we arrived in Barra da Tijuca, in January 2011, it has been a process of relationship building with the LOC, earning their trust and working towards a situation where we have full confidence in each other. We reached that situation long before the close of 2012, and we are truly working together hand in hand.

The appointment of Michele Naili as General Manager of Broadcast at the LOC has really helped us, she comes from within broadcasting and knows the business well. For that reason she is able to understand our needs. It is really an important factor having someone who can make the bridges for us within the industry.

All the LOC staff are very helpful, involving us in all their planning and operations so we are always up to speed with what is happening on the project. They are also always keen on getting information and knowledge from us, based on our experience on previous FIFA World Cup events. It really is a two-way street, with us going to them for information about the present project and them coming to us for our expertise and the knowledge HBS has built up over previous editions of the FIFA World Cup.

A key person for the success has been Ricardo Trade, now CEO of the LOC. In spite of his impressive title and responsibility, Baka' is very accessible. He gathered an extremely important event experience while in charge of the 2007 Pan American Games in Rio de Janeiro, and he has brought part of his team and ideas with him to the next project. The fact that he has immediately been on the same wavelength with HBS, and particularly CEO Francis Tellier and Project Director Jrg Sander, has been a huge advantage.

In August the offices moved to the Riocentro complex where the International Broadcast Centre (IBC) will be in 2014. At first we thought it might be an obstacle but sharing a workspace in the LOC office makes life far easier.

On a practical level it allows for direct liaison. I don't have to email someone at the LOC and wait for their reply, I can just walk over to their desk and ask my question. It makes things far quicker and much more efficient and also allows the relationship to move beyond a purely professional level into genuine friendship.

What is a great satisfaction is not being a guest at the LOC Christmas party but being invited as de casa', which can be explained as part of the family' in Portuguese. It shows that all the hard work building a relationship, and earning the trust and confidence of the LOC, has paid off.

We both have the same objective at HBS and the LOC to produce the best ever FIFA World Cup in Brazil in 2014. Just as the FIFA slogan for the event says, we are Juntos num s ritmo' [all in one rhythm] working towards achieving this goal.

LINK:	http://www.hbs.tv/news-archive/news/article/hbs-memories-2012-friends-...
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