KUALA LUMPUR, November 19, 2019 – MetLife Inc., (NYSE: MET) announced the official inauguration event of its new Asia Center of Excellence (CoE). The event took place yesterday at The Vertical in Bangsar South commercial district in Kuala Lumpur and was attended by the Minister of International Trade and Industry, YB Datuk Darell Leiking, the U.S. Ambassador to Malaysia, Kamala Shirin Lakhdhir and the Acting Chief Executive Officer of InvestKL Muhammad Azmi Zulkifli along with government officials and members of MetLife’s Asia senior management team.

The new center will leverage local talent to support the global finance teams on financial reporting, planning and analysis, and finance technology systems. Commenting on the CoE, John McCallion, Chief Financial Officer for MetLife, Inc. said “The CoE in Kuala Lumpur is an exciting addition to our Asia region. We intend to tap into the impressive talent pool and focus on delivering high-quality services to our business partners across Asia.”

“The competitiveness of Malaysia’s economy hinges on sound financial planning, forecasting and smart business foresight. This must be strengthened through the creation of a talent pool that has the critical skills to spur trade and industry from a financial standpoint,” said Minister of International Trade and Industry, YB Datuk Darell Leiking.

“The launch of this CoE is an important addition to our domestic ecosystem, and we are pleased that MetLife has strengthened its presence in the development of Malaysians in the finance sector,” he added.

Commenting on U.S. investments in Malaysia,  Acting Chief Executive Officer of InvestKL, Muhammad Azmi Zulkifli said, “We are pleased that MetLife continues to place confidence in Malaysia and have expanded their presence with the opening of the CoE. Greater KL has a strong proposition with many advantages, including a sophisticated business ecosystem and business-friendly policies, well-developed infrastructure and a robust multilingual talent pool with management and finance-related qualifications.  We will continue to support MetLife on their regional growth journey in building their high skilled talent pipeline through InvestKL’s Talent programme and other industry-academia facilitation.”

Koh Chong Hin leads Xylem’s business in the Southeast Asia region.  He is responsible for driving business growth across Xylem’s wide portfolio of water technology solutions, including a new portfolio of decision intelligence tools.  Xylem’s vision is to help create a world in which water challenges are no longer a barrier to human health, environmental sustainability, or prosperity. 

Prior to joining Xylem, Mr. Koh was the Director for Industrial Technology at ZF Asia Pacific covering the Middle East and Asia Pacific regions.  He also held various Sales and Business Development roles at Rolls-Royce plc and started his career at the Singapore Economic Development Board.  

Mr. Koh earned a Master of Engineering degree in Aeronautics and Astronautics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and has lived and worked in Germany and the United Kingdom.  

1. How would you describe your management style?

Having read many business books, I’ve concluded that different management styles suit different situations and team compositions. I try to be flexible, but the style I default to most is that of “servant leadership.” I believe leadership is a privilege, and those who aspire to be in leadership positions should first and foremost have the heart and desire to serve their employees and the communities around them. When people feel cared for – in terms of their growth and well-being – it is more likely that they will perform to the best of their abilities, resulting in more sustainable outcomes.

2. Who inspires you the most and why? How have you incorporated it into your daily life?

Novak Djokovic.  I’ve grown up playing tennis at a competitive level during my school days, and tennis is one of the sports that require physical agility, stamina, fast reflexes, strategic and tactical thinking, and mental strength. Often your worst enemy is yourself, as self-doubt and lapses in concentration can cause you to choke during critical moments. I’m inspired by Djokovic’s dedication and talent, and most importantly his demonstration of sportsmanship, humility and humour – both in victory and defeat. In my daily life, I try to keep the bigger perspective while responding to day-to-day challenges, keep my motives in check with a healthy dose of introspection and find the humour in every difficult situation.

3. How do you see your organization changing in two years, and how do you see yourself creating/being a part of that change?

Xylem has embarked on a journey of transformation, from a product and brand-centric focus to solving water challenges through the power of technology and expertise. Together with our customers and partners, we aim to make water more accessible and affordable, and communities more resilient.   I foresee changes in the way we service our customers, how we tap into the passion of our colleagues and stakeholders to create social value, and how we align our efforts towards achieving our sustainability commitments. I see myself working hand-in-hand together with my colleagues around the world to drive these changes, as this is very much an opportunity of a lifetime for us to solve water both for ourselves and our future generations.

4. Tell me about an accomplishment or a memorable incident that shaped your career.

I was fortunate enough to win a scholarship from the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB) to pursue an engineering degree in the USA.  The overseas experience and the subsequent development and exposure I had working at the EDB, including a 3.5 year stint as Director for the Frankfurt Centre greatly accelerated my learning during a formative part of my career.   For this reason I take a keen interest in engaging and developing talent, especially those in their early careers.

5. What would we be surprised to learn about you?

I volunteer regularly in cleaning stables at Equal-Ark, a charity in Singapore that offers horse-based therapy to youth, persons with special needs, families and the elderly with clinical depression and dementia.  This involves about 2 hours of manual labour each time clearing out manure and replacing horse bedding in the stalls.

6. What book are you reading or podcast you most recommend?

I’m currently reading a book titled “The SCRUM Fieldbook – A Master Class on Accelerating Performance, Getting Results and Defining the Future: by J.J. Sutherland.  The author describes “scrum” as a way for a person, a team or an organization to be able to respond to increasing complexity, to respond to unpredictable change and to navigate nimbly through constantly changing conditions.

7. What do you do for fun?

I edit photos and create videos on my iPhone for fun, mostly for sharing with friends and family members. But on most days spending time at home with my dog, 4-year old maltese poodle after a long day at work or a business trip is fun and relaxing enough.

VERITAS Design Group  is one of the world’s leading integrated multi-disciplinary design firms with a network of global offices delivering award-winning architectural and related professional services which realize innovative sustainable solutions for the built environment. Founded in 1987 upon the principles of constant innovation and a commitment to quality its philosophy is intertwined with the story of its evolution as an organization. 

Led by group president David Mizan Hashim and vice president Lillian Tay, Principals Azif Nasaruddin, Ng Yiek Seng, Azril Amir Jaafar, Zainal F. Abdul Aziz, Edward Chew,  Eric Tham, Shah Jaffar, Shamsuddin Wahap, Richard Raymond and Anton Alers and are backed by a team of over 380 qualified professionals and professional support staff. Although VERITAS began as an architectural practice, it now offers a full range of supporting design services through subsidiary and associate companies.

Interior design services are provided by VERITAS Interiors Sdn Bhd, landscape design services by VERITAS Landscape Sdn Bhd and planning services are provided by VERITAS Planning Sdn. Bhd. The firm’s head office is located in Kuala Lumpur, with a branch office in Georgetown, Pulau Pinang to handle work in the Northern region and in Johor Bahru to handle work in the Southern region. Although much of its work has been in Malaysia, VERITAS is undertaking an increasing amount of work overseas.

VERITAS Architects USA was established in 2012 and led by Richard Woodling and managed by 2 other directors of VERITAS USA Inc Azif Nasaruddin & Komathi Ramakrishna. We joined AMCHAM to build up network relationships and utilize the network within AMCHAM to expand our Clientele beyond Malaysian Clients and Malaysian Borders. We feel that being a member AMCHAM connect and reconnect American Clients both in Malaysia and America.

AMCHAM welcomed the Director-General of the Royal Malaysian Customs Department, Dato’ Seri Paddy Bin Abd Halim, for an exclusive luncheon dialogue on Monday, November 18, 2019. Held at Hilton Kuala Lumpur, this was the first time that Dato’ Seri Paddy has addressed AMCHAM members as Director-General.

Members who attended were able to engage directly with Dato’ Seri Paddy and his team, and to learn more about priorities and latest initiatives and developments of the Customs department and what can be expected in 2020. During the Q&A session, members were able to obtain clarification on technical matters of relevance to their sector, and to identify engagement avenues to discuss company-specific challenges with RMCD officers.

Special thanks to Dato’ Seri Paddy and his team for coming amidst a busy schedule, and we look forward to deepening our engagement with Customs over the coming months.