MOL widens ethnic scope of executive appointments in Asia

JAPANESE shipping giant MOL (Asia) Ltd has announced a wide range of senior appointments in the Asia under Hong Kong's administrative jurisdiction which reflects the growing ethnic diversity of the group's executive suite.

"MOL believes a mix of Japanese and local national work force with international orientation, outlook and background is crucial to maintain and expand our business around the globe," said MOL Asia chairman and managing director Michael Goh.

"Every year, we promote local nationals and transfer a number of Japanese executives from MOL Tokyo headquarters to assume key positions in Asia regions. These executives bring to us their broad and diverse experience and business knowledge," Mr Goh said.

In Hong Kong, Shinzo Kawamura will succeed Masaru Morioka as Asia director of finance and administration and will also supervise the Asia's systems and business process teams.

Louis Tang, currently director of MOL Asia's sales and customer service group, will succeed Mitsujiro Akasaka as senior vice president of MOL Asia and Oceania trade management.

Frederick Birnbaum becomes general manager and will succeed Mr Tang as head of the Asia's sales and customer service teams. In the north Asia region, which includes Japan and Korea, Hajime Miyabe, currently director of MOL India and also responsible as Japanese accounts sales director for the subcontinent, will succeed Keitaro Shimamoto as group leader of administration in MOL Japan.

In the central region - China, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan - Simon Chow, currently deputy general manager of regional planning group, will succeed Emi Akaike as general manager, administration.

In the ASEAN north region - Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam - Mitsujiro Akasaka, currently senior vice president of MOL Asia and Oceania trade management, will succeed Takao Furukawa as president of MOL Thailand and also assume the regional directorship.

Waki Ikemoto, formerly director of MOL Thailand's logistics division, will succeed Akira Kurita as country director of Thailand.

Masafumi Yamamoto, formerly deputy general director of MOL Vietnam, is promoted and will succeed Katsunori Moriya as general director and country director of Vietnam.

Hin Theany, currently general manager of MOL Cambodia, is promoted to country director of Cambodia.

In the ASEAN south region, which includes Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines and Singapore, Masaru Satose, currently managing director of MOL Singapore, and will succeed Yoshiharu Kanamori as regional director.

Kazuya Gakuto, currently group leader of liner procurement and a member of the corporate planning division cost management unit, will succeed Mr Kanamori as president director of MOL Indonesia and will succeed Tatsuya Ueki as director of Japanese accounts sales for the region.

Justin Chuo Ngie Kiong, currently general manager for sales and logistics in MOL Malaysia, succeeds Tatsuya Ueki as country director for Malaysia.

In the west Asia region, which includes countries in the subcontinent and the Indian Ocean, Middle-East and east Africa, Masateru Kawano, currently country director and general manager of MOL UAE, will succeed Hajime Miyabe as the director at MOL India and will also be responsible as Japanese accounts sales director for the entire west Asia region.
(Source:www.schednet.com)