Employees at Midis Group affiliates Apcom and ABM shine at Telekom Vivicitta Half Marathon
Running teams from Midis Group affiliates Apcom and ABM (Arab Business Machine) and others recently took part in the Telekom Vivicitta Half Marathon. 34 people from the companies travelled to Budapest, Hungary and took part individually and in relay teams over the weekend of April 21-22.
This is the second time that employees have taken part in the event in an organised way. For many, participation was all about training, teamwork, managing the logistics, setting up communications, co-ordinating the effort during the race, networking, and importantly, celebrating the achievement afterwards.
With Apcom as the principal instigators of the group activity, employees from across Central and Eastern Europe joined forces with ABM’s Dubai team of 12 to participate in the Telekom Vivicitta Half Marathon.
At least five senior leaders from each company took part, too. These included Georges Abboud (President Mono Brand Distribution and Co-President Retail at Midis Group), Branka Cander (General Manager, Apcom Adriatic), Elie Andraos (General Manager at Arab Business Machine) and Layth Sibai (General Manager, Arab Computers KSA).
Over two days, the 39th Budapest Spring Half Marathon attracted an amazing 23,569 entrants – some running individually, some in teams, some over the whole 21km course and some over one of eleven smaller courses. Entrants included Olympic champions, celebrities and public leaders.
Gerard Saatdjian, a member of ABM’s HR leadership team and a participant in the race, shared more about how the weekend was organized. On Friday night, everyone who was flying into Budapest for the event gathered for a dinner.
The briefing session took place on Saturday evening, where Midis Group t-shirts and Marathon kits were distributed. Participants received a presentation about the route, and a video on the comfort stops and relay points where runners handed over to the next teammate.
“After the Marathon, the closing dinner was on Sunday night where everyone gathered to share their experience on the event, and it was a great opportunity to get together from different countries and regions” said Gerard.
The ABM team were very pleased with their part of the experience: “It was an achievement I will always be proud of, as it was a challenge I undertook. There is always a first time, and Budapest was my first Marathon” said Elige Farah.
Barbara Massoud was philosophical about the challenge: “My first half marathon wasn’t just a race; it was a journey of self-discovery and resilience.”
“The event was well organized, with people cheering on the streets – and holding banners to encourage runners. A very positive and fantastic event!” – Gerard Saatdjian
“Crossing that finish line, feeling like a champion” was a great moment for Ahmad Ghanem. Being part of a team was key for Hadi Ghazaleh, also from ABM: “No road is long with good company.”
Sahil Mishra said, “The sense of accomplishment that comes with crossing the finish line is unparalleled.”
Branka Cander, General Manager, Apcom Adriatics, shared her thoughts on the event saying: “It was an experience that the Adriatic team appreciated, being able to participate in an event where both sports and networking could take place. The whole team once again stepped out of their comfort zone. In many cases, they started running for the event and those who regularly run this kind of Marathon achieved record times at the Budapest one. I am very proud of each of them and look forward to the next event to come.”
“It has been a great pleasure to meet other colleagues from Midis Group and engage in discussions on both personal and work-related topics. We have pushed the limits once again, as we do in everyday work together – and with focus!” – Ana-Marija Durdic
Effective communication and networking were crucial during the event. It was heartwarming to witness colleagues from different regions come together, meet new faces, and engage in meaningful conversations. The event proved to be an excellent networking opportunity for everyone involved. According to Gerard Saatdjian, the top three qualities required to succeed in the event were perseverance to complete the marathon, a positive attitude towards achieving the set goal, and building professional and personal relationships with fellow colleagues.
