BCCT Eastern Seaboard Panel Evening
(L to R) Joe Barker-Bennett,
managing director of JMBB Consulting Co. Ltd.; Matt Horris, managing
director Acushnet Titleist (Thailand) Ltd.; David Cumming, general manager
of Amari Orchid Pattaya; Trevor Negus, manufacturing director, Ford Motor
Company (Thailand) Limited; Kulshaan Singh, managing director, Aon Hewitt
(Consulting) Southeast Asia.
David Cummings
A panel event was held recently by the Eastern Seaboard
Group of the British Chamber of Commerce at the Pullman Pattaya with the
main theme of, “Looking at both the personal experiences of industry and the
expertise of a HR consulting firm that helps give an insight into ways of
retaining your team members in an ever more competitive Thai labor market.”
(L to R) Dr. Dirk Janovsky,
general manager, Continental Automotive (Thailand) Co., Ltd.; John Faulds,
global account manager, Logistics, Services Gulf Agency Company (Thailand)
Ltd.
The four speakers were from different sections of
industry: service and industrial. HR consultancy Aon Hewitt gave the HR
perspective in addition to feedback on research it has conducted in both the
Thai and other Asian markets. The panel was made up of Kulshaan Singh,
managing director of Aon Hewitt Southeast Asia; Trevor Negus, manufacturing
director of Ford Motor Company; David Cumming, general manager of the Amari
Orchid Pattaya; and Matt Horris, managing director of Acushnet Titleist
(Thailand) Ltd.
Background views on what actions and employee actions,
recruitment policies, benefits, and social activities were given by Trevor,
Matt and David, which interestingly showed the different approach of the two
different sectors. It also highlighted the wide range of initiatives that
all companies are conducting and indeed expanding year on year to the
benefit of their team members with a view to retaining their labor force.
This was followed by a most intriguing presentation by
Kulshaan Singh of Aon Hewitt that highlighted the main factors in retaining
Thai employees vis a vis other Asian nations; the top rated Thai employers
and why; and how he saw the Thai labor market moving forward.
Questions also followed as concerns highlighted included
the new minimum wage, increased productivity, shortage of manpower in the
area and the challenge the opening up of Myanmar may present.
(L to R) Kiattisak
Boonruangthavorn, managing director, Kloeckner Pentaplast (Thailand) Co.,
Ltd.; Walter Stroeder VP operations & purchasing, Asia Kloeckner Pentaplast
(Thailand) Co., Ltd.
(L to R) Yu Suzuki, associate
director, JAC Recruitment Thailand; Latiporn Tongkhunna, executive assistant
manager, Amari Orchid Pattaya.
(L to R) Paul Gater, business
development and engineering manager, Autoliv (Thailand) Ltd.; Wilasinee
Towijit, branch manager, JAC Recruitment Eastern Seaboard.
(L to R) Varaporn Lamai,
corporate sales manager for Hilton Pattaya; Trevor Negus, manufacturing
director, Ford Motor Company (Thailand) Limited; Sakda Yodsalae, assistant
sales manager, Hilton Pattaya; Tony Malhotra, deputy managing director
Pattaya Mail Publishing Co., Ltd.
(L to R) Dean Croshere,
general manager, Typhoon Fruit Ltd.; Gerald Dibbayawan, associate director,
FJK Consultants (Thailand) Co., Ltd.; Danilo Torresani, HR & manager,
Danieli Far East Co., Ltd.
