The members of the Henokiens Association met this year between the 29th of October and the 1st of November in Geneva for their annual General Meeting organized by the member firm, Lombard Odier Darier Hentsch & Cie.
The highlight of this meeting was the election of Christopher Viellard, from the member company Viellard Migeon & Cie, as the new President of the Henokiens for the next two years, beginning in 2010. Christophe Viellard said saw the Henokien companies "as living and vivacious historical monuments" and he intends "to promote this heritage in all countries where these companies are active".
Christophe Viellard succeeds Peter von Möller who completed two successive terms as President of the Henokiens Association from 2006 to 2009.
The meeting was also marked by the following facts :
A tribute was paid to the members who had died this year, Jean Hugel and Max Lemoine,
The introduction of the two companies which have joined the association this year : Thiercelin, a French company founded in 1809, specialised in natural aromatic plants and Monzino1750, an Italian company founded in 1750, musical instrument maker and music publisher,
The agreement of the members to organize a meeting between Henokiens companies and new family companies whose managers are currently preparing a MBA at the international business school, Insead,
The organization of the 2010 General Meeting of the Association by the member Augustea (probably next June), an Italian company founded in 1629, which is today an international shipping group whose main activity in the transport of dry freight such as coal, ferrous ores, grains and phosphates.
On the occasion of the General Meeting, the Henokiens members and their family were able to discover, for some, or to get to know better for others :
The famous Chopard jewellers, a Swiss family company which will celebrate its 150th anniversary in 2010,
Firmenich, a Swiss family company founded in 1895, today one of the three world leaders in the perfume and aromas business,
The Martin Bodmer Foundation. This "Library of World Literature" is a unique place bringing together the most essential written documents of humankind in the fields of literature, art, religion, science and politics,
The Philippe Pascoët chocolate house, designated as «Best Craftman » of the year 2006 by the city of Geneva and winner of « Best Chocolate Maker » prize of Geneva in 2008.
The Henokiens Italian members visit Barovier & Toso on May 23, 2009
As part of its activities, on May 23, 2009, the Italian section of the Association invited its members to visit the firm Barovier & Toso, located in Murano (Venice) where its historical headquarters, its museum and furnaces are still located.
This family company was founded in 1295 by Jacobello Barovier. One of the most famous and representative figures of the Barovier house is undoubtedly Angelo Barovier (1405-1460) who, as a glassmaker artist, made a vital contribution to the development of his art with the invention, among others, of the famous Venetian Crystal.
Today, the company, certainly one of the oldest family businesses in Europe, is managed by Jacopo Barovier (tenth generation, descendant of the founder). It offers a wide variety of artistic glass, sold worldwide for the general public as well as for lighting for public spaces, for large companies, hotels or cruise boats.
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