Announcement of the joint winners of the second Passion Awards

Geneva, 12th June 2008: During the prize-giving ceremony, the Frédérique Constant brand announced the name of the joint winners of the second Passion Awards. "Live your passion!" For the watchmakers at Frédérique Constant, this remains a fundamental factor in the success of any company. Armed with this conviction, the manufacture decided to encourage achievements of passionate men and women who have been able to develop their ideas, moving quickly from an innovative concept to a fast-expanding company.[[MORE]]
It was in the presence of the ten finalists and in front of an audience of 800 handpicked guests, that the second Passion Awards prize-giving ceremony took place Thursday June12th. During a very passionate concert by the Chamber Orchestra of Geneva, Peter and Aletta Stas, both passionate about watch-making and kind-hearted entrepreneurs of the Frédérique Constant brand, honoured two prize-winners chosen from among the ten international candidates in contention for the Passion Awards:

* Pierre Marcolini is the founder and CEO of Pierre Marcolini Chocolatier. Belgian by nationality, Italian by origin, Pierre Marcolini Chocolatier is the known producer of « Haute Couture » chocolate. Created in 1995, the company now counts over 15 flagship stores around the world. A meteoric success that is the result of excellence, audacity, and a passion for all things gourmet.
*
Laura Cotton is the founder of Paint a Smile, a Foundation dedicated to the improvement of hospital environments. After a tragic accident in her family, she decided to dedicate her life to the improvement of the hospital environment. Paint a Smile’s mission is to reduce the anxiety and de-dramatize a stay in hospital by permanently transforming the cold and impersonal environment into a colorful and welcoming world. Today, Laura Cotton is the passionate President of the Foundation.
The jury, made up of Peter and Aletta Stas, respectively CEO and COO of Frédérique Constant, Dominique Turpin, marketing and strategy professor from the IMD Institute of Lausanne, Carlo Lamprecht, Former Chairman of the State Council of Geneva and Dr. Haig Simonian, Bureau Chief of the Financial Times in Switzerland, hailed Pierre Marcolini and Laura Cotton for their enthusiasm and passion. The prize-winners companies will receive a personalised case study by Professor Dominique Turpin from the IMD of Lausanne on the subject of their choice, as well as a gold Frédérique Constant Heart Beat Manufacture watch. The ten participants retained received a steel Heart Beat Manufacture watch.

The Financial Times is the Passion Award’s official media partner. The Passion Awards Ceremony and Concert was organized in partnership with Fortis and ABN AMRO.

Criteria and Process for the Award are clearly outlined on the Frédérique Constant Passion Award website (www.passion-awards.com). There are no restrictions of gender, age or nationality of candidates. Submissions from Social Entrepreneurs were also welcome.