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| Global Spotlight focuses on employees
from the Mitsubishi Companies, who are excelling in their respective fields
around the world. In each issue we will get to know different employees, who
will tell us about their hometowns, businesses, culture, and pastimes. |
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My name is Mark Geisler. I am in charge of internal audit at Mitsubishi UFJ Global
Custody Luxembourg (MUGC). Luxembourg, officially the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg,
is a landlocked country in Western Europe, bordered by Belgium, France, and Germany.
Luxembourg has a population of 524,853 and is one of the smallest countries in
Europe, ranked 170th of all the 194 independent countries of the world with an area of 2,586 square kilometers
(998 square miles). The whole country is almost the same size as the Tokyo metropolis but with about 40 times
fewer inhabitants!
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A representative democracy with a constitutional monarch,
Luxembourg is headed by a grand duke. Luxembourg is one of
the world's most developed countries, with an advanced economy
and the world's highest GDP per capita (PPP - $89,012 in 2011),
according to the World Bank.
MUGC operates mainly in the custody and fund administration
services sector. Our clients are mainly from the Mitsubishi UFJ
Financial Group (MUFG). Almost 120 people work at MUGC
Luxembourg and about 20 in our subsidiary in Tokyo, MUGC Japan.
Despite the economic situation, our volume of activity and business
has significantly increased in 2012. This keeps us very busy!
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| MUGC aims to realize a sustainable society here in Luxembourg,
while fulfilling our inherent mission and roles in society as a financial
institution. Originally, Mitsubishi Group companies have three
inherited “Spirit of Mitsubishi” corporate principles: corporate social
responsibility, integrity and fairness, as well as global understanding
through business. The most visible part of Corporate Social
Responsibility is our support for socially beneficial activities such as
donations to educational and cultural institutions, our participation in
the “Relay for Life 2012” and in voluntary activities like the Japanese
stand at the International Bazaar in Luxembourg. All the funds that
were raised at these events have been donated to cancer-research
and humanitarian aid for developing countries.
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I had the chance to visit the MUFG/MUTB Head Office last year. It was a great
experience for someone like myself who has been in contact with Japanese
culture since the age of six. That was when I started to practice Karate under
a Japanese Sensei (teacher/master) sent by the Japan Karate Association
World Federation Europe. I was impressed by him and decided to know and learn more about the Japanese
people and culture. I had the chance to learn Japanese at university in Belgium and to teach Japanese
Management to students afterwards.
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The Windy City, the Second City, the City of Big Shoulders,
Sweet Home Chicago is the third largest city in the United
States, although many of its citizens like to think of it as number
one in just about every category. Chicago is a great place to be
in any season, as long as you don’t mind a little cold and snow
in the winter. Winter, however, gives us a great chance to ice skate and enjoy the holiday festivities downtown.
And if it gets too cold, you can duck into any one of the many fine restaurants throughout the city. As the
warm spring weather rejuvenates, Chicago’s two baseball teams take to the field and lead us into the long,
hot summer. The city really cooks during summer with all kinds of neighborhood fests, public performances,
and big events such as the Taste of Chicago and Blues Fest. Lake Michigan offers opportunities for boats,
beaches, and beautiful scenery. Finally, fall comes to Chicago. As jackets and sweaters reappear from the
back of the closet, Chicagoans enjoy the crisp autumn air, and the chill of winter once again draws near.
| Chicago also serves as home to many of the country’s largest companies. A pioneering city in the railroad
industry, Chicago still acts as a major rail hub, and the growth
of O’Hare Airport (ORD) has added an important component
to Chicago’s forwarding and transportation industry. Mitsubishi
Logistics America Corporation (MLA) takes advantage of this
climate to deliver and distribute to customers throughout the
Midwest. From car parts to chemicals, farm equipment to
pharmaceuticals, MLA has been facilitating our customers’
supply chains for over forty years.
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As a member of the MLA Air Freight department, my job is to
oversee customs entry and speedy and accurate delivery of
our customers’ freight on the import side. And on the export
side, we have to manage the entire process from pickup at the
shipper’s facility to negotiations and coordination with the airline
to documentation per the requirements of the destination country.
Due to the nature of air freight, each shipment requires attention to
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detail and an understanding of urgency. You never know, a production line or trial run may just be hinging
on the freight you are handling. As a freight forwarder, we rely on trustworthy partners to help us deliver
safely and speedily. That along with good communication and preparation makes up the keys to air freight
forwarding.
Another facet of my job is customer service for a particular customer for whom we distribute out of
Chicago. We receive their material via ocean freight and store at the warehouse. Some customers receive
containers direct from MLA’s client’s overseas plant. For others, I coordinate delivery from the warehouse as
needed. I also ensure that there is ample stock to fill any order, whether it is a
purchase order placed well in advance or an emergency pallet needed ASAP. |
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When not at the office or airport, I enjoy going to sports events. Chicago
offers great opportunities to take in a professional football, basketball,
baseball, or hockey game. I also enjoy outdoor activities like running, biking and canoeing, for example. And
with all my friends and family living in the Chicago area, I get to see those close to me very often.
Whether for business or recreation, we hope your next visit to Chicago is a fun and memorable one. |
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