(From left to right) Ridzwan, the new chief brand officer focuses on increasing brand value, improving service quality and Syariah and halal compliance; Khalisah ensures efficiency and effectiveness in supply chain operations; Anis concentrates on building brand equity and driving positive public perception; while Azuar leads property development for QSR Brands.
QSR Brands leads the way in redefining talent transformation
IN TODAY’S fast-paced business environment, fostering a dynamic and inclusive culture is crucial for sustained success.
QSR Brands (M) Holdings (QSR Brands) has embarked on a transformation turnaround plan with an emphasis on cultural transformation through a strategic initiative known as the People Grower and NextGen Programme.
This comprehensive programme is designed to empower employees, enhance leadership capabilities and attract the next generation of talent, ensuring the company remains competitive and innovative.
With the growth potential in the quick service restaurant landscape, QSR Brands recognises the need to transform to better serve its customers in Malaysia.
Transformation began in 2020, focusing on three key areas: enhancing board diversity to improve the quality and objectivity in decision-making, establishing a new senior leadership team to drive innovation, and strategy towards becoming Asean’s leading food-technology company.
The company’s cultural transformation has taken shape with the support of a dynamic board, shareholders and chairman Tan Sri Jamaludin Ibrahim.
This effective transformation ensures alignment with the organisation’s strategic objectives, fostering a culture that supports its vision, mission and core values.
Ensuring stability
QSR Brands chief executive officer and managing director Nehchal Khanna had laid a strong foundation for the company since joining four-and-a-half years ago.
“A robust transformative culture is the cornerstone of QSR Brands’ success, making the company more agile and driven to solve problems in a fast-paced business environment,” he emphasised.
As a company that has been serving Malaysians for over 50 years, with significant stakes held by Johor Corporation (JCorp) and the Employees Provident Fund (EPF), the focus remains on providing quality products and services to customers while contributing to the Malaysian economy through job security for 17,000 team members in Malaysia, of which approximately 80% are Muslims.
“Over the past four-and-a-half years, QSR Brands made significant progress through a comprehensive transformation and turnaround strategy,”
“The initiative focused on developing robust business plans for our brands, primarily KFC and Pizza Hut.
“Efforts have been geared towards ensuring sustainable growth and enhancing the overall value of our assets and our people.”
The company flywheel is underpinned by four core values: growing people as builders, daring to innovate boldly, never giving up, and putting customers first.
These values are central to the cultural transformation initiative, which aims to enhance employee engagement, promote diversity and inclusion, and drive innovation.
Growing valuable talent pool
In line with its commitment to cultural transformation, QSR Brands introduced a new talent development team.
This team is instrumental in driving the company’s Talent Development Programmes, known as QSR Brands Next-Gen and People Growers.
The programme aligns individual aspirations with organisational goals, fostering continuous learning and professional growth.
The introduction of this team marks a significant step in QSR Brands’ journey as the leader in the quick service restaurant sector.
The People Grower Programme is dedicated to leadership development and skill enhancement.
By identifying and nurturing future leaders through targeted training and mentorship, QSR Brands ensures a robust pipeline of capable leaders ready to take on key roles.
Employees who participated in the programme have already been promoted to managerial positions, bringing fresh perspectives and innovative ideas to the table.
The NextGen Programme focuses on attracting and retaining top talent from diverse backgrounds, with a particular emphasis on the next generation of future leaders.
By partnering with educational and professional institutions, Nehchal identifies and carefully selects talents from within the organisation, offering mentorship opportunities and continuous upskilling, ensuring a steady influx of next-generation talent and senior leaders.
Ongoing professional development opportunities are provided to enhance employees’ skills and competencies.
This not only improves performance levels but also enables employees to take on more complex tasks and responsibilities.
Clear career pathways are established, helping employees understand their growth potential within the company and boosting morale and retention.
Rising up to the challenge
As a testament to QSR Brands’ commitment to growing its people, the company recently announced the appointment of several key senior leaders.
These leaders, who will work alongside Nehchal, bring diverse expertise and a strong dedication to driving the company’s success.
“Our new lineup of senior leaders are equipped with diverse expertise and will contribute significantly towards our continued transformation,” Nehchal said.
“They have been elevated from our NextGen bench. Together, we are poised to navigate any challenges ahead and seize new opportunities, ensuring QSR Brands remains at the forefront of our industry.”
> Ridzwan Othman, who was previously the project management office head, is now the chief brand officer. He will oversee brand value, customer service and quality and Syariah and halal compliance.
> Anis Yusof has been appointed as the chief communications officer. With over 25 years of experience in various industries, she will focus on building brand equity and driving positive public perception, and reinforcing the reputation of QSR Brands through strategic communications.
> Khalisah Nadiah Zakaria is the new supply chain management head. Her journey at QSR Brands began in 2019, and she will oversee all supply chain operations, ensuring efficiency and effectiveness in the process.
> Azuar Azhar has been promoted as property development head. With a background in mechanical engineering and extensive experience in facilities and maintenance management, Azuar is well-equipped to lead QSR Brands’ property development initiatives to ensure maximising returns on capital invested.
The impact of the programme has been profound.
Employee satisfaction and retention rates have increased significantly, leading to a more committed and productive workforce.
The company has seen improved performance and productivity, driven by a motivated and skilled team.
The strong leadership pipeline ensures that QSR Brands is well-prepared for future opportunities and growth.
In conclusion, the Cultural Transformation at QSR Brands exemplifies how strategic initiatives can drive cultural change, develop talent, and ensure long-term sustainable growth.
By investing in its people and fostering an inclusive and innovative culture, QSR Brands is well-positioned to thrive in the competitive business landscape.
