Hennessy is celebrating the exceptional quality of outstanding leadership amongst the younger generation of entrepreneurs across Malaysia by bringing five pioneering members into the Hennessy X.O Circle of Excellence.
Recognition is given to exceptional individuals who possess a zeitgeist, a daring streak to break from convention while adopting the spirit of inclusion towards fostering growth and progress driven by impactful, intuitive, and exemplary leadership.
Four core qualities characterise the spirit of inclusion: Pushing Boundaries, having an Open Mindset, Advocating Collective Intelligence, and Innovativeness.
Aiko Inouye Lee, Senior Brand Manager, Hennessy X.O, Moet Hennessy Diageo Malaysia Sdn Bhd, said, “Hennessy has been in Malaysia for a century and a half, and through generations, we have witnessed the power of the collective that drives excellence. The Hennessy X.O range has always been associated with outstanding leadership and success across every field. Our founder himself possessed a young, progressive streak, and that’s always been how we’re perceived. This is also always how we have and will continue to lead.”
Hennessy celebrates the spirit of inclusion by crafting exceptional cognacs that bring exceptional leaders within the community together. Its versatility comes from its pioneering spirit and value of inclusion, and it’s these things the brand looks for in its recipients. Within the business community, they are champions of progression through culture, adopting the long view and collective transmission in their business strategy. Fueled with an inclusive mindset and charisma, these are the sort of leaders who feel at ease in the world as part of the global Hennessy family.
“The Hennessy X.O Circle of Excellence recognises these exceptional entrepreneurs who represent the same trailblazing spirit of Hennessy and inspire strength in the journey of progress. It is a way for the brand to engage more deeply within the community that it aims to support,” continued Lee.
From the different regions across Malaysia, the pioneering members of the Hennessy X.O Circle of Excellence named are:
Leon Lee
Chief Executive Officer (C.E.O.), Zeon Properties Group
Property consultancy firm, Zeon Properties, may have had its inception in Penang but has grown greatly with over 1,000 staff members in their Malaysian offices. With more than 300 projects under its belt, the Group has carved itself as a specialist offering the complete spectrum of property-related products and services. This was largely overseen by C.E.O. Leon Lee, an advocate of collective intelligence who understands the uniqueness of every individual hire and how they collectively drive excellence.
Leon demonstrates leadership that sets the stage for future innovative work by championing sustainability, emphasising comprehensive planning and green concepts by using sustainable materials. Leon successfully steered the Group as a preferred marketing and consulting firm at home. He helped build a strong reputation among foreign investors as the go-to service provider via representative offices in Singapore, Vietnam, China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan.
Dato’ Sri Edwin Tan Pei Seng
Executive Chairman, Paragon Globe Bhd and Group Managing Director, Joland Group
Joland Group is a recognisable name amongst the residents of Johor Bharu. The property development and property investment business has significantly expanded in the last decade under the guideship of Dato’ Sri Edwin and his brother. He began his career as the Chairman’s P.A., where he learnt the brick-and-mortar intricacies of the business that prepared him to take over the role.
Since assuming a leadership role, he has pushed boundaries, expanding from a small developer with projects under the Paragon brand into a diversified conglomerate, establishing itself in the sectors of hospitality, education, retail mall management, healthcare, aquaculture and mixed development. Now, Dato’ Sri Edwin advocates collective intelligence by curating a strong management team of open-minded talent to champion progress and innovation within the company.
Andy Yek Hock Siang
Managing Director, C.R.W.N. Idea Sdn Bhd
Andy’s journey began in construction, where he developed a passion for home makeovers that influenced the trajectory of his career, inspiring him to set out on his own. From Bintulu Sarawak, the business quickly expanded across the state. In two decades, Andy moved from being a third-party retailer to producing his own line of sanitary ware, kitchenware, and home improvement products, marketed under the name, Gucini.
He sets himself apart by catering to local market needs, offering bespoke experiences and selling home-grown products benchmarked against international standards. This analytic-driven research, combined with an in-house Research & Development facility, fosters continued innovation and customisation in product design, setting the stage for future innovative work.
In addition, Andy introduced an experimental, direct-to-the-end-buyer business model based on a token membership fee and reward scheme. It has allowed his broad clientele, from homeowners to developers and contractors in the hospitality sector, to enjoy dealer prices, filling a huge gap for affordable luxury in the market. Andy is constantly searching to push boundaries in his time as Managing Director.
Roland Chua
Group Chief Executive Officer, Kin Ho Group
For Johor-based Roland, wood production and pallet manufacturing were interests fostered from childhood. With the company in its 40th year of operation, he leverages the company’s combined knowledge and experience while remaining adaptable to the changing market and technological developments.
Prioritising efficiency, Roland has overseen the evolution of the company’s traditional means of operation with the integration of modern technology to gradually transition fully into Industrial Revolution 4.0 mode by 2023.
He possesses an open and growth mindset fostered through resilience and perseverance. It allows him to focus on delivering high-quality products while improving value-added services, which he does while maintaining an optimistic attitude to every challenge he faces.
Choong Pin Hoong
Director, Syarikat Letrik Chen Guan Sdn Bhd
Pin Hoong came into the family business a mere two years after earning his Bachelor’s degree back in 2009. Since then, he has developed a unique leadership style since stepping up to run the Selangor-based mechanical and electrical contractor company. Most notably, Pin Hoong champions the philosophy that “one must have the guts to invest in failures.”
Working in a long-established industry requires the ability to combine old and new approaches to create an effective business model. For Pin Hoong, this means giving his team more chances to take ownership of their roles and company-related decisions, as well as providing them with the necessary tools to do so. He understands, as an advocate of collective intelligence, mistakes are the price of innovation and that every decision, success or failure, is an opportunity to learn together.
The five pioneering members above have also been recognised with the prestigious first-ever A.C.C.C.I.M. Outstanding Young Entrepreneurs Model Award at the award ceremony held in Penang recently.
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