CAREER SUMMARY
Innovative and results oriented HR generalist with regional experience in HR leadership and people management across Asia region. Particular strengths are strategic recruitment for business expansion and transformation, organizational development supporting senior business managers by collaborating with team members in a matrix environment. Looking to value add my HR capabilities for an organization with growth plans across Asia.
WORKING EXPERIENCE
OXFORD INSTRUMENTS (A UK listed hi-tech company with global presence)
MAY 2012 TO CURRENT
HR Director, Asia
Direct report to Global HR head in London, UK, with a matrix structure supporting businesses and HR leaders globally.
First HR Asia role hired to support rapid business growth in three broad business groups, namely Nanotechnology Tools, Industrial Products and Customer Service for the Asia region, namely China, Japan, South Korea, India & South East Asia region.
Full HR responsibilities for Asia including strategic recruitment, organization design (OD), training & development, compensation & benefits, HRIS management.
Support Japan as a standalone sales & service teams in Asia representing respective businesses locally.
Key achievements:
Lead a number of global business projects like mergers, acquisitions, divestitures affecting Asian teams. Provided strategic support to business leaders to review/ restructure their business teams pre & post-projects to improve business performance.
Aligned global HR initiatives with country policies & procedures, compensation & benefits, in line with local market best practice, labor law and compliance requirements.
Recruited the new China President to lead an accelerated business expansion plan for China, and collaborate through strategic talent recruitment activities, developing fast track career path with key focus on high potentials and competitive total rewards programs.
Set up South Korea branch office and built business teams to support the rapid growth for nanotechnology and R&D businesses within 6 months.
Successfully built strong regional leadership team in various businesses to prepare for the company’s next level of business expansion.
Identified high potential performers to develop and build talent pipelines, mentor them to prepare for succession planning in the short to medium term timeframe.
CONVATEC SINGAPORE PTE LTD (A US public listed healthcare company)
MAR 2009 TO APR 2012
Regional HR Director, Asia Pacific
Direct report to Global VP HR in New Jersey, USA, dotted report to three General Managers covering North Pacific, Japan & South Pacific regions.
Involved in all aspects of HR functions, from strategic business partnering to operational support for 10 countries in the APAC region.
Work with regional business leaders and the global HR teams on talent management initiatives, to attract and retain high potentials, high performers and critical role contributing employees.
Key achievements:
Set up new regional offices in North Asia and recruited senior managers to head respective countries after the company was divested from the parent pharmaceutical company, Bristol Myers Squibb Inc. (BMS). Key talents were brought in within a period of 6-9 months.
Realigned Taiwan organization structure with new leadership team onboard for improved business performance under strong leadership management.
Launched HR initiatives to integrate a new business acquisition in Australia through harmonization programs like communication workshops, cultural integration talks, alignment of HR polices & procedures. In addition to implementation of attractive compensation & benefits rewards to ensure talent retention as well as talent attraction into the integrated environment.
Involved in the 2011 Japan tsunami event, providing HR related support as well as liaising with the global teams on business continuity plan such as ongoing IT connections, employee safety assistance, payroll process, work rearrangement & EAP/ morale management.
PROLOGIS SINGAPORE PTE LTD (A US public listed real estate investment trust (REIT))
NOV 2006 TO FEB 2009
HR Director, Asia
Direct report to SVP HR in San Francisco, California, USA
First HR to be hired to head up Asia region and help with the company’s rapid expanding teams, for all Asian countries in Singapore, China, India, Korea & Japan.
Chair-person for Quality Work-Life committee, Personal Development committee, Winning Culture Development committee, through implementation of various HR initiatives.
Key achievements:
Decentralized HR processes from the US corporate office to apply them locally in the respective Asian countries, but still aligned them with the global framework and principles to ensure consistency.
Expanded Singapore office and coach young leadership team to ensure a cohesive cultural in a diverse environment.
Set up four new offices in India within 12 months. But due to the global financial crisis, closed them within 6 months and exit employees through employee assistant & outplacement programs.
ASPECT SOFTWARE (ASIA PACIFIC) PTE LTD (A US privately held IT software company)
JUN 2000 TO OCT 2006
HR Business Partner, APAC & Middle East
Dual reporting to VP in Asia and VP HR in US, partnering with line managers in managing the whole spectrum of HR for the company which includes:
Recruitment & Selection (Strategic talent expansion)
Compensation & Benefits (Budget/ forecast & support)
Training & Development (Planning, delivery & assessment, Talent Management)
Performance Management (Appraisal, KPI process mapping, Succession Planning)
Partnering with global head office to strategize, plan & deliver HR Initiatives. This includes supporting respective Business Managers to roll out policies in the regional Asia-Pacific countries namely Malaysia, Hong Kong, Thailand, Philippines, India & Singapore.
Facilitated relevant programs partnering Country Line Managers, including constant review and refinement of training materials, workshops with training providers.
People management & collaboration with peers from diverse background, areas include coaching & counseling, conflict handling & communication management.
Key achievements:
Set up a core regional HR function in Singapore to support businesses in the APAC & ME countries
Align with the global standards locally in compensation & benefits, policies & procedures, annual reviews, training & development programs.
Launched and Chairperson for Learning & Quality Work-Life program, implementing HR initiatives to enhance current work culture.
TALENT CONSULTING GROUP (A HR Consulting & Executive Search company)
SEP 1995 TO MAY 2000
Consultant:
Executive Recruitment
Responsible for all levels of talent search & recruitment for Fortune 500 clients involving all aspects of hiring process, from talent scouting, interview & shortlisting candidates with the right capabilities, salary negotiation & benefits consultation, to onboarding & coaching candidates into the new working environment.
Regional HR Consulting
Assisted in HR consultation projects for clients in Asia Pacific countries such as:
Manpower planning and strategic recruitment
HR systems & methodologies including M&A business integration through strategic HR process alignment
HR consulting, coaching & counseling projects relating to talent retention, career development & succession planning
Key achievements:
Set up expatriates management & relocation system and process, through a panel of selected vendors for accommodation, children schooling, tax assistance and engagement activities to settle them well into the local culture.
AUG 1993 TO AUG 1995 - Pursue a two-year MBA Degree
CHUBB INSURANCE GROUP INC. (An American Fortune 500 Insurance company)
JAN 1990 TO MAY 1993
Underwriter, Commercial/ General Insurance
Attended 6 months of intensive underwriting training at the US offices in San Francisco & New Jersey.
Responsible for underwriting, marketing & servicing 80% of the Company’s corporate clients through analyzing clients’ financial performance, business operations. Assessed insurance/ business risks & structured price coverage.
Relationship management with reinsurance underwriters, insurance brokers & agents.
CORE COMPETENCE/ EXPERTISE
HR Management (Recruitment & Selection, Training & Development, Compensation & Benefits, Human Resource Strategies & Process Improvement)
HR Transformation, Talent Development & Succession Planning
HRIS systems for SAP HR, HR Workday system, HR Success Factors
PROFESSIONAL HR CERTIFICATIONS
Thomas DISC Personality Profile Analysis Certification by Mills & Associates LLC 2005
Target Selection Behavioral Interviewer skills certification by DDI Word 2012
Experiential Coach Development Program by EMCC Greenfields Consulting Limited 2013
Negotiation & Influence Strategies for Directors by Clariden Global 2016
EDUCATION
Master of Business Administration
University of Dubuque, Iowa, USA 1993-1995
Bachelor of Business Administration
University of Iowa, Iowa, USA 1986-1989
LANGUAGE SKILLS
Written & Spoken Languages
English & Chinese - Excellent
Cantonese & Taiwanese - Good