A team of professionals setting the direction and moving ahead.
About Taylor Smith Group
Word of CEO
Colin Taylor
Thank you for taking an interest in our Group.
We are a privately-owned family business based in Mauritius with activities in the Indian Ocean Islands. While, the founding of our more traditional businesses dates back to my great grandfathers’ time over 100 years ago, we create new companies every year as opportunities arise. Our website gives you a comprehensive insight of the strength of our diversity and growth over time.
I often get asked the question, what is your core business, the answer is….we don’t have one!
All our businesses are either No 1 or No 2 in their industry, and are led by competent independent management reporting to a board. The common link between the companies is that the equity is held by Taylor Smith Investment Ltd. To an extent, our business model is one where we consider ourselves to be a type of long term private equity player, whose focus is driven by investing in innovative and sustainable businesses that can grow to become leaders in their sector of activity.
Our values of Respect, Empowerment and Innovation are core to the way we run our businesses. We truly believe that our people drive of our success, and it is only through them that we can achieve our goals. Our ambition is to be recognized as one of the preferred organizations to work for in Mauritius and be in a position to attract the high potential Talent, and provide them with the opportunity to grow with us.
We believe that our growth will also come through partnerships, we seek to partner with people and organisations with whom we share common values.
Taylor Smith Investment is always on the lookout for new opportunities and I will be pleased to hear from you whether you are a large multinational looking for a local partner in Mauritius or an entrepreneur with drive, energy and a good idea.
Look forward to hearing from you.
Colin
Email : colin.taylor@taylorsmith.mu-
Dominique VaudinCorporate Affairs Director
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Gaetan Ah KangGroup Finance Director
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Nicolas RaffrayIT & Property Director
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Jean-Cyril JullienneGroup Human Resources Director
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Early days
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1865
James Smith (1839-1910) arrived in Mauritius from Scotland. He was a shipmaster and a ship chandler, he settled in Mauritius where he found there was plenty of work on ships calling for stores and those damaged by cyclones.
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1868
James Smith, David Black (1842-1878) and John Black (1846-1879) established a ship repair yard. The Black & Smith partnership was born
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1873
Black & Smith buy LAND in the Caudan area for the development of a marine yard.
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1878-79
David and John Black died of malaria, the partnership is restructured.
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1879
Alexander Taylor (1855-1929), ship's officer and marine carpenter arrived in Mauritius. He joined Black & Smith.
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1891
A portion of land on Tonnelier Island was leased and Black & Smith's main workshops were transferred from the Caudan.
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1892
The premises and workshops were devastated by a cyclone. these were rebuilt on a plot of land North of Quay D.
After the disaster of 1892, the shareholders of Black & Smith were James Smith, Captain Richie and Alexander Taylor.
James Smith retired in 1898 and Captain Richie in 1902. James Smith's two sons: George and Jack, together with Douglas Pearmain, joined the company.
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Birth of Taylor Smith Group
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1908
The Black & Smith partnership was officially terminated and renamed Taylor Smith. The four founders were George Smith (1872-1958), Alexander Taylor (1855-1929), Douglas Pearmain (1880-1945) and Jack Smith (1876-1946).
The group specialized in 4 branches:- Taylor Smith & Company, operating as shipwrights
- Taylor Smith, specialized in stevedoring
- Port Louis Water Supply Company, supplying fresh water to vessels in the harbour
- Pearmain & Co Electrical Work
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1914
Taylor Smith became the managers of the Stevenson Dry Dock.
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1929
After the death of Alexander Taylor, the management was shared between his 3 sons: George Taylor managed the marine Yard. Percy Taylor managed the stevedoring and Duncan Taylor managed the accounting department with George Smith.
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New ventures
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1930s
In the 1930's Taylor Smith participated with Rogers & Co and others in the formation of The Colonial Steamship Company.
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1945
After World War 2, George Taylor, Duncan Taylor, Percy Taylor and George Smith are still involved in the the management of the Taylor Smith Group. They are joined by the new generation: Dennis Taylor (engineer), Ian Smith (accountant), and James Smith (engineer) they participated in the management.
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1952
In 1952 Taylor Smith participated in the formation of the Mauritius Hotels Group again with Rogers & Co.
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1961
Derek Taylor, eldest son of Percy Taylor joined the stevedoring section of the business, after having served for 10 years in the merchant navy and obtained a masters certificate.
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Taylor Smith & Rogers Group
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1972
TAylor Smith Group becomes a shareholder in Rogers & Co. Dennis Taylor and Ian Smith appointed as directors of Rogers.
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1973
Tim Taylor returns to Mauritius and joined Rogers & co as economist.
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1980s
With the retirement of the old generation, the structure of Taylor Smith and the Rogers Group inevitably changed.
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1982
George Coombes took over the Management of Taylor Smith & Co.
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1983
The stevedoring companies were nationalized and the cargo handling corporation took over all cargo operations.
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1984
Derek Taylor became Chief executive of the Rogers Group. Tim Taylor a divisional director together with George Coombes.
Captain Yves Betuel took over the management of Taylor Smith & Co. -
1987
After his studies in England, qualifying as an engineer and obtaining an MSC in management, Colin Taylor joined the Rogers Group.
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1992
After his studies in hotel management an MBA and work experience in London, Philip Taylor joined the Rogers Group.
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1995
When Captain Yves Betuel retired from Taylor Smith & Co. Ltd, Colin Taylor took over as Managing Director.
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1999
Derek Taylor retires as CEO and becomes chairman of the Rogers Group until 2001.
Tim Taylor becomes CEO of the Rogers Group, he was subsequently chairman between 2004 and 2012. -
2004
Taylor Smith Investment Ltd with Colin Taylor as the CEO is incorporated.
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2007
Dominique Vaudin born Taylor obtained in Accounting with French, followed by a Maitrise AES. Later qualified as an ACMA with CIMA in the UK.
After work experience in London and Mauritius, she joined Taylor Smith as a director and presently manages one of the subsidiaries. -
2008
Ann Vallet born Taylor, obtained a Cordon Bleu Diploma and B. Tech in Travel and Tourism in London.
After work experience in UK, Europe and Mauritius, she joined Taylor Smith as a Director and is presently Chair Person of the Foundation. -
2012
The Rogers group was restructured with the floatation of Cim Financial Services Ltd on the Mauritius stock exchange. Following this, the Taylor Smith Group acquired a majority stake in Cim Financial Services Ltd and disposed of all its Rogers & Co-Shares.
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The New Taylor Smith Group
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2016
The Taylor Smith Group is now mage up as follows: Elgin Ltd, Kinsgton Asset Management Ltd, Taylor Smith Investment Ltd and Tss Ltd.
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