Calum McDonald, the current CEO of Gateway Interstellar, approaches the speakers lecturn and arranges his notes in preperation for an announcement.
The crowd of invited guests and news media falls silent in expectation.
" Ladies and gentlemen, i have asked you all to be here to make an announcement on the appointment of a new CEO here at Gateway."
" Many years ago my good friend and mentor, Sir Alisdair Buchannan, asked me to take over the reigns at Gateway Interstellar as he saw in me the passion and drive that it took to take the Company to new hieghts in the field of trading.
I have done my best in this field, and to my promise to him, as far as i can.
From keeping the Company safe during the Kusari war and to reinstate trade there after the end of that war.
To riding out the mess that was the Bretonia/Rhienland conflict in the Omegas and to aid in the evacuation of the planet Leeds to all those who requested it to safe havens elswhere.
In short, to keep trade flowing from Bretonia all over Sirius in the face of stiff opposition from that other Bretonian shipping company that no-one remembers the name of "
At that comment a ripple of sniggers flows through the room.
" But my time has come. It is now appropriate that someone with new zest and ambition is required to take Gateway further than i could in my growing years "
Another ripple of laughter spreads.
" After a long search, i have found such a person. "
Calum beckons to a man standing slightly behind him.
" Ladies and gentlemen, please let me introduce you to the new CEO of Gateway Interstellar, Mr Richard Coleman.
He has already proven himself in our field of business and i am positive that he will drive Gateway on to greater heights and achievements "
At that Calum stands back to let Richard take up the position at the lecturn and to the applause that he deserves.
Only his closest friends could see the tear forming in the corner of Calums eye as he stood back to allow Richard the floor.
After the applause ended Richard Coleman cleared his throat and took a sip of his glass of water.
He looked over his shoulder towards Calum McDonald and exchanged a friendly nod.
''Thank you, thank you all for granting me this great opportunity. No words can describe my gratitude to everyone here in this room. Although mister McDonald mentioned how time has come let us not forget what happened in time for Gateway, how both mister McDonald and Buchanan have done an excellent job in running Gateway. Their deeds for this company shall not go unforgotten and have set an excellent example for all of us to learn from.
You all must be very curious what this change in leadership will do to Gateway, and I shall give you a brief announcement of plans that are currently in the make. Since I haven't really got a chance to start working on these subjects I'm afraid that I cannot go into that much detail as of yet.
The time has come, not just for a change in leadership, but also for a complete change in Gateway's direction. I tend to see this as a fresh start for Gateway, to build from the foundation Buchanan and McDonald have worked so hard on. We will work to achieve even greater heights, and to accomplish that Gateway will undergo a reorganization.
So what will change, you ask? Well for one the company shall be renamed to Gateway Shipping again as it once used to before mister Buchanan started Gateway Interstellar. Although Interstellar has played an very important part in this company it is time to move on to the next chapter. With a new face comes a new name. Aside from plans to change the companies name back to Gateway Shipping there are also plans in the make for a new company layout. I cannot go into too much detail as of yet, but there will be all sorts of new job opportunities once we've finalized our plans.
So with all this change, how will Gateway still keep its identity as it currently is? Well, lets not forget that even though protocols and the company structure will change, the core identity of Gateway will be untouched. Not just the spirit that runs in Gateway will stay the same, but along with some minor details the primary goal of Gateway shall remain the same too.
Our strive to be the best, our strive to compete and our strive for a fair market. We, Gateway Shipping, shall take trade to a whole new level.
Do we have the courage and the strength to turn things around, and go for more jobs and growth? I say yes, we do.
Thank you!''
Richard Coleman stepped away from the microphone and shook McDonald his hand, in the background there was another applause.