On 20 August, Relocation Management Company Sirva Worldwide, Inc. announced that it has completed a transaction with the support of its lenders and equity sponsors, Madison Dearborn Partners and Relo Group. The company said that this transaction strengthens the company’s balance sheet and provides it new liquidity, supporting its continued growth and innovation and enabling further investment in its technology, employees, and ability to serve customers.
JK Moving Services in the USA has announced new appointments for its commercial and residential teams. Mike Coleman has joined JK Moving Services, as executive vice president, Commercial Services, reporting to JK President David Cox. In this newly created role, Mike heads commercial services and will lead all aspects of business unit growth, profit, and performance.
“We welcome Mike to the JK family,” said David Cox, president, JK Moving Services. “His industry experience, strategic skills, and success in leading operational transformation are important as we build to drive growth in existing and new sectors.”
David also announced Eric Ball as a new member of the team as senior vice president Sales and Business development for Commercial Services. “Eric brings a wealth of experience to directing outside sales and business development initiatives,” he said.
The workers of the Portuguese Agency for Integration, Migration, and Asylum (AIMA) have announced a strike starting on August 22, 2024, primarily targeting overtime work, which will extend until the end of the year. AIMA was formed last October following the abolition of SEF ((Serviço de Estrangeiros e Fronteiras). AIMA is responsible for regularizing the entry and stay of foreign citizens into Portugal including granting residence permits.
In a statement to LUSA – Portuguese News Agency, the National Federation of Unions of Public and Social Workers (FNSTFPS) clarified that “this strike will last until the end of the year”, with the expectation that “it may be called off if AIMA takes the necessary steps to create the staff map with a sufficient number of workers to address pending requests and manage contacts with immigrants”.
The strike arises from deep-rooted concerns over inadequate staffing, overwhelming workloads, and frustrations with the ongoing transition from SEF (Serviço de Estrangeiros e Fronteiras) to AIMA. AIMA workers have long been raising alarms about the unsustainable conditions they face, with more than 400,000 pending cases creating significant delays. The issues have been exacerbated by a recruitment process that many describe as opaque, further stressing an already strained system.
OMNI (Overseas Moving Network International) has two new members of its board: Eric Tate from Aires in the USA and Ido Barner from Mobilitas. This interview looks at their respective backgrounds, their thoughts on the OMNI organisation, the key issues the industry faces right now and OMNI’s role in addressing them.
OMNI has recently heard of the death of Moore Shanks, one of the UK moving industry’s most enduring characters. Moore had been a director of Scotpac in the 1970s, with the company’s founder, John Scott. The company later became part of Crown. He was a key figure for many years with the BAR’s Overseas Group Council and, more especially, with the Mover’s Trading Club which worked closely with OSA (Overseas Shippers Association) to negotiate shipping rates for OMNI and BAR members. Moore continued to work with the MTC until his retirement in 2018. The directors and staff on OMNI wish to convey their sorrow at Moore’s passing and to offer their sincere condolences to his close friends and family.
The Board of management and staff of OMNI are deeply saddened to hear of the untimely death of Max Chorus from Streff in Luxembourg, aged just 65 years old. Streff is one of the founding members of OMNI and Max has been a longtime friend of the network. He was always a lively participant at OMNI conferences, guaranteed to voice strong opinions in his assertive yet gentle, respectful and often amusing way. The Board sends sincere condolences to Max’s family, friends and colleagues during this difficult time.
Rula Costa-Rising has joined Gerson Relocation UK and the company’s business development manager. The company said that Rula has a thorough understanding of global mobility and the employee relocation experience having previous oy worked at Santa Fe in a business development role.
Photo: Rula Costa-Rising
OMNI member Invictus Relocation in Portugal has announced the appointment of Luis Amorim as its new Supply Chain Efficiency Manager. With over three decades of rich experience in the moving industry, Luis is a well-respected figure whose name echoes far and wide in industry circles.
Founded a century ago, in 1924, FINK Mobility began its journey by consolidating donations to the impoverished victims of the World War and shipping from Brazil to Europe. It was the start of a humble transportation company, gradually growing to become a global player in the mobility sector, known for its high quality and impeccable ethics.
Nuss Relocations Sydney, one of Australia’s leading moving and relocation specialists, is now providing international packing and wrapping services that are totally plastic free. This is a major advance in the company’s efforts towards providing the most sustainable moving service in Australia.