Pernod Ricard CEO wins CICI award

Choi Jung-wha, fourth from left, president of Corea Image Communication Institute (CICI), poses with winners of the Korea CQ award and guests during a celebration at the British ambassador's residence in Seoul, Tuesday. From left are Jean-Manuel Spriet, CEO of Pernod Ricard Korea; Francois Provost, CEO of Renault Samsung Motors; Vincent Bernard, general manager of Christian Dior Korea; Choi; British Ambassador to Korea Scott Wightman; Jocelyn Collette Clark, a professional "gayageum" (traditional Korean zither-like instrument) player; Jordanian Ambassador to Korea Omar Nahar;Jasmine Lee, a Saenuri Party lawmaker-elect; and Singaporean Ambassador to Korea Peter Tan. / Courtesy of CICI

By Kim Se-jeong

CEO of Pernod Pricardo Korea Jean-Manuel Spriet won a grand prize of the "Korea CQ" award Tuesday, given by the Corea Image Communication Institute (CICI).

Choi Jung-wha, president of CICI, said Spriet's abilities to communicate, cooperate, concentrate, communicate and to mingle in different cultures shown throughout the institute's getting-to-know-Korea session has gotten him the recognition.

CQ refers to five quotients - culture, communication, cooperation, concentration and communication - which Choi sees are crucial in achieving success in what he or she is doing, and are commonly found among leaders.

To meet the needs of achieving members of the CICI, Choi and her staff offer lectures and activities that are customized to their interest and curiosities, she said.

Scott Wightman, the British ambassador to Korea who participated in the CICI's session, said it has given him "a wonderful opportunity to meet Korean people, to get experience in living in Korea and to learn about different aspects about Korea". He was also awarded for his culture quotient.

Other winners included David Choi, CEO of disamobili, Ha Joo-hyun, CEO of Bioderma; Theresa Rah, communications director of the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Games Bid Committee; Joseph Young, representative director of Bureau Veritas Korea; Vincent Bernard, general manager of Christian Dior Korea; Peter Tan, Singaporean ambassador to Korea; Omar Nahar, Jordanian ambassador to Korea; and Francois Provost, CEO of Renault Samsung Motors.

Founded in 2003, CICI has brought together a group of opinion leaders residing in Korea to share cultural experiences and to brainstorm innovative methods to promote Korea. Among its noteworthy achievements was Culture 20 in September 2010. Held two months before the G20 Summit, Culture 20 invited international figures from G20 member countries for a Korean educational program in Seoul. In November 2004, it also financed a promotional film, "Korea's IT" as a springboard for a new image for the country.

Jocelyn Collette Clark was an inspiring guest performer at the ceremony. Coming from Alaska, she got a doctor's degree in Gayageum, a traditional Korean string instrument, from Harvard University. She is now teaching at Pai Chai University.

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