THE four CEOs featured today represent industries that are very different from each other but share one thing in common – it's a tough market out there.
They are Datuk Ramli Abbas of Celcom, T.K. Quah of Lafarge Malayan Cement, Steve Mitchell of AC Nielsen, and Jim Cheah of MasterCard International.
Celcom, Malaysia's first cellular operator, is now trying to find its way back to become the country's premier mobile operator – in terms of numbers, services and profits.
After being taken over by Telekom Malaysia Bhd
, Celcom now has a new board under Dr Munir Majid and a new management under Ramli. The mobile business still has a lot of growth potential in Malaysia and mobile operators, including Celcom, should benefit from this potential and the rationalisation among the various players.
The cement industry has been facing a glut for some years now, following the Asian financial crisis, and that's not good for Lafarge Malayan Cement, which controls more than 60% of the local market. But the situation appears to be improving with the economic recovery.
Quah wants the government to continue to encourage industries to use local products, including cement, to prevent foreign dumping.
New Zealand-born Mitchell is one of the youngest country heads of the AC Nielsen group and was with the company in Japan before coming to Malaysia.
He sees prospects ahead with stronger economic growth and rising consumer confidence.
This view is shared by Cheah, who sees another good year for MasterCard.
They are Datuk Ramli Abbas of Celcom, T.K. Quah of Lafarge Malayan Cement, Steve Mitchell of AC Nielsen, and Jim Cheah of MasterCard International.
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