Craig Hitchcock MBE

Ancestors

Descendants

Problems/Questions Profile managers: Closed Accounts WikiTree [send private message] and John Hitchcock [send private message]

Craig Hitchcock MBE was a wonderful member of our WikiTree community who has passed away. Craig Hitchcock MBE made many contributions and will be missed.

Biography

Born in London in the UK on the 13th May 1948 he studied at Latymer Upper School, Hammersmith, where he took his O and A Levels. On leaving school he joined the Royal Air Force where I was trained at the RAF OCTU Henlow, before receiving my commission on the 17th March 1967 (St Patrick’s Day - little knowing at that time how much Irish ancestry was flowing in my veins, from both my father’s and my mother’s families!). With the RAF I spent nearly15 years in operational and staff roles in the UK and Middle East including control of a million m² storage complex; cipher officer; IT systems management at the MOD Supply Control Centre; and management and as a Leadership Training Officer at the RAF College, Cranwell. On leaving HM Armed Services in 1980, I spent seven years in Bordeaux developing and managing domestic and export wine trade operations. This was followed by 10 years in export sales and logistics and management of temporary accommodation solutions.

I was appointed on the 24th December 1999, the very day of the first military uprising in Côte d’Ivoire, to manage and develop a well-known cargo superintendence company specialising in hydrocarbon measurements and analysis. Subsequent appointments have included the business development director with an IT security company in Abidjan, specialising in data and network security, Deputy Managing Director of a hotel complex, Front of House Manager if the large NewsCafe complex, and various English teaching appointments in different private schools. I have managed all those companies and their operations through the economic and political turmoil that has reigned over 12 years. Semi-retired, he now specialises in assisting UK Visa applications online, and providing Business Development advice to your Ivorian Entrepreneurs.

I am very involved in the business community in Côte d’Ivoire where, in addition to my professional responsibilities, I am: a former Rotarian, a British Embassy Warden, the Chairman of the Abidjan Business Friends Club, a former Director of the American Chamber of Commerce, the In Country Director of the Business Council for Africa (West & Southern) for Cote d’Ivoire, the Project Coordinator for the Bilateral Ivoiro-British Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Abidjan Zoo Volunteer, and more. I have made regular appearances on the 2 national TV channels of the state TV – RTI.

My experience includes:  International sales management and International Trade Show Presentations  Development and implementation of standards for customer service and after sales support.  Supply chain management in military and commercial environments  Quality control of chemicals and fossil fuels and certification of cargoes.  Corporate management with P&L responsibility.  Staff training and management in military and commercial environments in UK, Europe, the Middle East and Africa  Hotel Management & Public speaking

He was honoured and made a Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE) in Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II Birthday Honours List 2013 and received the award in Windsor Castle on the 19th July 2013 from Her Majesty personally.

Origins

Early Life

Family

Occupation

1966 - 1980 Flight Lieutenant Royal Air Force Supply Branch (formerly Equipment)

1980 - 1987 Courtier-en-Vins (Wine Broker) Bordeaux, France

1987 - 1995 Export Sales Manager (Mobile Homes) Devon Caravans, Surf Bay Caravans

1996 - 1998 Hinds Head Hotel, Bray-on-Thames, Berkshire

1998 - 2000 Strategic Marketing Analysis, Results Corporation, Huntingdon

2000 - 2002 General Manager, Quality & Quantity Control Services sarl, Abidjan, cote d'Ivoire.

2002 - 2003 Technical Sales Manager ALTIS sarl Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire

2003 - 2004 Deputy MD Hotel Residence Ohinene, Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire

2004 - 2005 Assistant to the MD of AKODA Assurances

2006 Food & Beverage Manager Newscafe, Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire

2007 - 2009 Business Development Manager, and English Teach at the Abraham Lincoln Language Institute.

2010 - present Consultant/Advisor Visas4UK Assistance Abidjan (also USA, Canada & Schengen)

2013 ... theoretically retired !!

Death & Legacy

As at the 21st December 2016, still alive and kicking !

Timeline

Contributors

Craig William HITCHCOCK [Hitchcock-944]

Pauline Margaret Beulah HITCHCOCK nee BOYER

Sources

http://www.theguardian.com/uk/2013/jun/15/queens-birthday-honours-diplomatic

http://www.britishsurnames.co.uk/

http://forebears.io/surnames/hitchcock#meaning

Acknowledgements

See also:

Patronymic Origins

1. HITCHCOCK: Hitch is an old " nursename" of Eicliard, and COCK is the ordinary diminutive.

Source: Lower, Mark A (1860) Patronymica Britannica: a dictionary of the family names of the United Kingdom. London: J.R. Smith. Public Domain.

2. HITCHCOCK: This surname is derived from the name of an ancestor. 'the son of Richard,' from nick. Hich (Hitch) or Hick. The initial R seems to have commonly nicked into H; compare Hodge for Roger, and Hob for Robert. For suffix -cock, v. Cocks. The harder form Hickcock (v. Hick) is found in the Hundred Rolls.

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