SMG receives Global Business Icon Media Leadership Award

KUALA LUMPUR: Star Media Group (SMG) received the Global Business Icon Media Leadership Award at the Global Business Forum 2023.

The award, which recognises business excellence, corporate leadership and overseas experience, was presented by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof at the Berjaya Times Square Hotel here yesterday.

SMG chief executive officer Alex Yeow, who received the award from Fadillah, attributed this achievement to the dedicated team behind the media group since its inception.

One for the album: Fadillah (third from left) presenting the Global Business Icon Media Leadership Award to Yeow at the Global Business Forum 2023 at Berjaya Times Square Hotel in Kuala Lumpur. Looking on are (from left) Matrade Deputy CEO Sharimahton Mat Saleh, KSI Strategic Institute for Asia Pacific president Tan Sri Michael Yeoh, KSI Strategic Institute for Asia Pacific chairman Tan Sri Majid Khan and KSI Strategic Institute for Asia Pacific deputy chairman Datuk Seri Mohamed Iqbal Rawther. — AZMAN GHANI/The Star

“We are honoured to receive this award. The hard work and commitment of all employees over the last 52 years have shaped SMG to become what it is today.

“From a single brand newspaper company, SMG is now a leading multi-channel media powerhouse and innovative solutions provider,” he added.

Yeow said that in recent years, SMG had been focusing on evolving new and relevant products to meet market needs.

One of the major initiatives was the introduction of Majoriti, a Malay news portal and Majoriti 7, a new Malay language weekly focusing on an upmarket lifestyle for the urban Malay segment.

“These new offerings allow us to expand our foray into the Malay market and also serve as effective platforms for businesses to promote their brands directly to their target audiences,” he added.

Speaking about the media group’s role in driving the nation forward, Yeow said SMG was putting a concerted effort into pushing for the environmental, social and governance (ESG) agenda among businesses, especially small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

“Leveraging on our wide reach and ability to influence all levels of society, we launched three core pillars of initiatives to accelerate the ESG momentum.

“This includes a monthly ESG pullout, the ESG Positive Impact Awards, as well as thought leadership and knowledge-sharing programmes,” he added.

Stressing that he is a believer in people, Yeow said: “SMG comprises a lot of talented people across the different areas of business, with the right mindset that makes a good team and the drive to bring in the best results possible. Success will follow as long as we keep building on each other’s collective strengths.

“We look forward to continue serving the industry, our stakeholders and audiences with the same passion and commitment that has brought us this far.”

Organised by the Global Business Council and the KSI Strategic Institute for Asia Pacific, the Global Business Forum is a high-ranking event which aims to promote Malaysian businesses globally and to encourage them to better compete and succeed in the international marketplace.