BCCT Eastern Seaboard Panel Evening
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.”
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.
(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.
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) Dr. Dirk Janovsky, general manager, Continental Automotive (Thailand) Co., Ltd.; John Faulds, global account manager, Logistics, Services Gulf Agency Company (Thailand) 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) Kiattisak Boonruangthavorn, managing director, Kloeckner Pentaplast (Thailand) Co., Ltd.; Walter Stroeder VP operations & purchasing, Asia Kloeckner Pentaplast (Thailand) Co., Ltd.
(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.
