Lee Weng Seong is the new man at the helm of Philips Malaysia. His appointment comes at a trying time, when the global and regional economies are being tested to the limits. Tech&U finds out more about Lee’s new role and the challenges ahead.

Lee plans to continue creating more opportunities for Philips in Malaysia.

Q: You have spent over two decades at Philips. What has made you stay loyal to the company?

A: I am very passionate about the work that I do and the opportunity to start with one division and be able to move around within Philips. It has given me fresh opportunities and created exciting challenges. It has also enabled me to grow my skills in areas such as sales, marketing, business and people development, and be an effective contributor to the overall growth of the company.

Q: How do you feel about being the first Malaysian to head Philips in Malaysia?

A: This is a privilege and honour. I have inherited a good and professional team of management staff who have tirelessly worked to ensure that we have grown double-digit over the past couple of years, a dedicated and energetic group of employees who are committed to their deliverables, and a supportive group of business and trade partners.

In my current role, I am tasked to drive Philips’ internal and external plans to achieve the company’s overall business goals to remain profitable and explore business growth opportunities through our various sectors.

Q: You have taken on various responsibilities in sales and marketing leadership positions for the Philips business in Asean. Can you share some of your experiences working in these markets?

A: People say Asean is one market, but in reality this is not the case. The markets we serve have to be approached with a specific strategy suited for a particular market. That was the challenge. But overall, my last eight years in that role had been a stimulating and enriching experience, and we successfully grew the business almost five-fold over that period.

Q: What are some of the key challenges in your new role?

A: We are in the throes of challenging times, with external influences impacting local and regional economic growth. So, we are seeing slower global economic growth, elevated prices and fragile international financial markets, all of which are projected to last through most of 2009 and will affect the domestic economy.

To sustain growth, we will continue to roll out energy-saving lighting products for professional and home users. And we will continue to create further opportunities for Philips in Malaysia in key segments such as healthcare and medical tourism.