【Event Report】Marine Insurer Gard Celebrates 30 years in Japan
180 Guests Celebrate Gard at Conrad Toyko
Although Gard has been active in the Japanese market, supporting local shipowners and insuring their P&I liabilities since the 1970s, it was only in the late 1980s it became possible to obtain a license to open an office in Japan to write local P&I business and Gard’s office in Tokyo was opened in October 1991.
The anniversary was marked earlier this week with a reception at the Conrad Tokyo for invited guests from Japanese shipowners and the marine insurance market. The event had been postponed from last year due to the pandemic.
Some 180 guests and Gard representatives were welcomed by Rolf Thore Roppestad, CEO of Gard, and Mr. Uchida, President of Meiji Shipping and a member of the Gard Board of Directors who gave a congratulatory speech.
The guests witnessed a traditional Kagami Biraki (the ritual of breaking open sake barrels) ceremony and the ceremony ended with a short speech and toast by Mr. Kaifu, President of Hawk Marine.
The evening closed with a short speech by John Martin, Managing Director of Gard (Japan) K.K.
