Originally from Between East and West: Essays in Honour of Ulf Franke

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I. INTRODUCTION

In 1990 I entered the family of international arbitration institution executives. I became Secretary-General of the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre (HKIAC). I was the new boy on the block. Indeed, HKIAC itself was less than five years old. I quickly met and became friends with the old hands: Bob Coulson at the American Arbitration Association, Tang Houzhi at the China International and Economic Trade Arbitration Commission, Bertie Vigrass at the London Court of International Arbitration, Dato’ P.G. Lim at the Regional Centre for Arbitration in Kuala Lumpur, Stephen Bond at the International Chamber of Commerce and, of course, Ulf Franke at the Stockholm Chamber of Commerce; to name a few.

At international conferences, we each were expected to sing the praises of our respective organisations. After a time, each of us couldprobably have given many of the other speeches. Over the intervening years each of the chief executives passed on the baton to a new representative. I stepped down as Secretary-General of HKIAC more than a decade ago. Ulf’s departure from SCC represents the end of an era not only for Stockholm but also for the arbitration world. Ulf is a very special person. To achieve success an arbitration institution must be seen to be trustworthy and competent. Ulf exudes integrity and competence in everything he says and does. He has been an example to us all. It is a pleasure to know him. I wish him every happiness and success in whatever he seeks to do in the future.