BIODATA
Name: Tan Sri Anthony Francis Fernandes
Age: 51 years
Date of birth: 30 April 1964
Origin: Kuala Lumpur
Position: Founder and chairman of Air Asia
About Tan Sri Fernandes
Tan Sri Anthony Francis Fernandes (born 1964; also known as Tony Fernandes) is a Malaysian entrepreneur and the founder of Tune Air Sdn. Bhd., who introduced the first budget no-frills airline, AirAsia, to Malaysians with the tagline "Now everyone can fly".
He rose to prominence by turning AirAsia, a fledging government-linked commercial airline, into a highly successful public-listed company. Fernandes was also instrumental in lobbying the then-Malaysian Prime Minister, Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad in mid-2003, to propose the idea of open skies agreements with neighbouring Thailand, Indonesia, and Singapore. As a result, these nations have granted landing rights to AirAsia and other discount carriers
Born in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Fernandes, who is part Goan and part Malaccan Portuguese, is the son of the late Dr. Stephen Edward Fernandes, and Ena Dorothy Fernandez. When he was young, he used to follow his mother, a businesswoman, to Tupperware dealer parties and conventions.
Educated at Epsom College 1977-83 and then graduating from the London School of Economics in 1987, he worked very briefly with Virgin Atlantic as an auditor, subsequently becoming the financial controller for Richard Branson's Virgin Records in London from 1987 to 1989.
How Asia’s biggest budget airline was built
Who is 49-year-old Tan Sri Anthony Francis “Tony” Fernandes, who has built the publicly listed AirAsia Group into Asia’s largest low-cost airline, with over 120 destinations servicing over 220 million passengers? AirAsia has been named the “World’s Best Low Cost Airline” in the annual World Airline Survey by Skytrax for five consecutive years from 2009 to 2013. What are his success strategies? Here is our list based on interviews and some research, not in any order:
A good grasp of finance
Similar to Megaworld’s Andrew Tan, Fernandes is an accountant by training and good at numbers. Educated at the London School of Economics, from 1987 to 1989 he worked as the financial controller of British tycoon Richard Branson’s Virgin Records in London. He is from Malaysia’s ethnic Indian minority, with ancestral roots in India’s former Portuguese colony of Goa, which explains his Portuguese-sounding surname. Fernandes was formerly Southeast Asian regional vice president for Warner Music Group from 1992-2001. No need to become accountants, but we all need a good understanding of accounting and finance.
Do not fear failure
“I don’t care about failing because I do not want to sit down in my older years and say, ‘How come I didn’t try?’ So we did and Malaysia is the country which allowed four Malaysians to go out and make their dreams come true,” Fernandes said.
Take care of key assets, your people
One of Fernandes’ strengths is his caring for and nurturing good employees. He sees people as the “key asset” of any business and hopes to help develop their full potential, passions and dreams. His business offices have no walls and he seeks ideas from his staff. On Dec. 12, Fernandes gave 263 Chopard watches totaling five million ringgit as gifts to 263 staff members who’ve been with the company 10 years. Chopard is a 153-year-old Swiss luxury watch brand. Also, after typhoon Yolanda destroyed Tacloban City, Fernandes reportedly sought out one of his employees whose home was wiped out and I heard the tycoon will help rebuild the house.
Marketing
Tony Fernandes invests in and excels in marketing. He said: “If you have a great product but no one knows about it, it’s history.” Fernandes reminds me of his former boss, Virgin Group’s colorful Richard Branson and America’s high-profile realty developer Donald Trump. Like Trump, Fernandes this year hosted the Asian version of the TV series The Apprentice Asia, with the winner being Filipino UP Diliman economics graduate Jonathan Allen S. Yabut, who is now also chief marketing officer of AirAsia Zest.
Use digital technology
Fernandes believes in using digital technology for his businesses. Much of his business comes from AirAsia.com. In fact, one unique thing about AirAsia flights is its inflight magazine Travel 3Sixty, which has this reminder: “Touch me, feel me and flip me over, but you can’t take me home. Read me online.” I think Fernandes isn’t scrimping on publishing costs, it is part of his clever marketing strategy to make passengers discover and enjoy his website.
Generosity
Fernandes is legendary for his personal and corporate generosity. He gives people big gifts, not only to generate loyalty to the business, but he is also generous in philanthropy, for example, his relief assistance to typhoon Yolanda victims here in the Philippines. His AirAsia Foundation also recently supported the social enterprise Rags2Riches led by Reese Fernandez-Ruiz of the Philippines. Rags2Riches is a genuine NGO helping underprivileged Filipino artisans transform their lives and turn scrap into high-fashion bags and other items.
BIODATA
Name: Faiza Ahmad Sayed Bawumi.
Age: 69 Years
Origin: Egypt
Position: Managing Director Company Faiza Sdn. Bhd
Education: Diploma Stitches
In 1964, a young Egyptian, Faiza Bawumi Sayed Ahmad, married a Malaysian and followed him back to Johor. Looking to fill her time with profitable activities, Faiza started sewing for her neighbours’ children and sold kitchenware. She was always looking for different business opportunities.
Faiza was interested in producing different spice blends for the curries and other Malaysian dishes. She experimented with her own blend of spices and curry powder. With each new blend, she sold a small quantity to relatives and friends and asked for their feedback. Over time, Faiza perfected her recipes and sold them to shops. A few years later, she bought bigger equipment for her spice blending work and opened her own sundry shop.
In the 1990s, there was a growing awareness to eat healthily. Faiza did some research and imported the ‘Ponni’ rice which is said to be good for diabetic patients. Now, Syarikat Faiza Sdn. Bhd. markets a variety of high quality rice all over Malaysia. Similarly, Faiza Marketing Sdn. Bhd. handles her spice business.
Despite her success, Faiza does not forget the poor and needy. Having a soft spot for single mothers, her companies sponsor the TV3 charity programme ‘Bersamamu’ that highlights the plight of the poor and needy. She is also planning to set up a foundation, Yayasan Faiza to reach more people.
Over the years, Faiza’s business success as well as her social work has earned her numerous recognition. Among them the 2010 Tokoh Maulidur Rasul award and the 2011 SME Bank’s Top Entrepreneur award.
BIODATA
Name: Dato 'Siti Nurhaliza Bt Tarudin
Age: 36
Company: Simply Siti sdn.bhd
Date of Birth: 11 Januari 1979
Favourites Colour: Green and pastels
Food: Spicy and mom’s dishes
Likes: Shopping, playing with nieces, resting at home
Dislikes: Being forced, judging people without prior investigation
Dreams: Bringing recognition for Malaysian music industry to the world
The company has come out with a motto of “It Used To Be My Secret, Now It’s Your”. Siti Nurhaliza, who is the president of SimplySiti Sdn. Bhd has come out with SimplySiti Skin Care and Make-up products that scientifically-designed and clinically-proven by the international cosmeticians. The latest creation from SimplySiti Sdn. Bhd is a fragrance. The SimplySiti line of beauty products is the results of two-year research with a Korean cosmetician. Korea is one of the advance nations and using a very high-technology for cosmetics industry. The cosmetics are being produced with the incorporation of the nanotechnology. Nanotechnology may be able to create many new materials and devices with a vast range of applications such as in medicine, electronics and biomaterials as well as energy production.
Now, this beauty product is becoming one of the most demand products in global market especially among the Asian woman irrespective of aged. Human behaviors are influenced by many variables. They are intellectual people whose nature demands are unlimited. Consumers are searching for quality beauty products in the market as they need to be attractive and fresh during their public appearance. SimplySiti cosmetic products are using the most natural and organic ingredients in their cosmetics in order to prevent scars and cancer. These healthy beauty products are environment friendly, non animal testing as well as a mineral make up. The choices of ingredients in the beauty products are very important. The products come with special formulation that contains Plant Endorphin which gives exhilarating effect and promote stress-free skin conditions. The combination of Korean Plant Stem Cells Technology and Advanced Hydra Collagen will not only can delay pre-mature aging but also gives the flawless and youthful complexion skin.
SimplySiti has also come out with a creative and innovative idea with the information of a new fragrance known as SimplySiti Eau de Parfum. The fragrance is designed in cooperation with French perfumer, Joelle Lerioux-Patris of Mane. The famous perfumer has been creating the fragrances and is the leading creator of the fragrances ingredients for a few decades. The innovation of perfume by SimplySiti that combines science and art from France is specially formulated with Betaphroline that will help in keeping human figure in shape and enhance mood. The fragrance motto is “Smell Good, Look Good & Feel Good”.
SimplySiti offers more than 97 products including skincare products, cosmetics products and fragrance products. These all beauty products are available over 200 Watsons, Guardian and Jusco outlets throughout Malaysia. There are also plans for promoting the products to Brunei, Indonesia, Singapore and Middle East countries. As the products becoming an established cosmetic brand, the company is planning to sell the products abroad soon. SimplySiti is a customer orientation due to the nature of its product. SimplySiti offers product variation to appeal different market segments of mass market. An example for Indonesia market, SimplySiti will export all variations for sales to mass market. It is necessary in order to gain sufficient economies of scales in production and distribution. SimplySiti Sdn. Bhd. also having many events and promotions for their consumers from time to time. In 2010 as a new consumer in the beauty products has achieved a high sales in the first three months, the president Dato’ Siti Nurhaliza and co-president, Datuk Seri Mohammad Khalid (husband) were busy having a road show throughout nationwide. The motives of having road shows are to make brand awareness and to know to the world as well as making a good relationship among the consumers. Moreover, the SimplySiti are also having a beauty workshops and press conference of the new products. Recently on 31 July 2012, Dato’ Siti Nurhaliza is having a smart partnership with popular local jewels company, Habib Jewels as the SimplySiti has come out a new SimplySiti products “Bejeweled”.
The company has achieved many awards because of its successful achievements within 2 years. In my opinion, I would like to stress here that Dato’ Siti Nurhaliza is a fabulous young entrepreneur. She ventures herself in this cosmetics business industry instead of being a professional singer. She did two jobs at the same time. As a successful young woman, she has open up my eyes and mind that anyone can be a successful entrepreneur as long as we put all of our efforts into it. Nothing is impossible. She is not just being a professional singer but also a great entrepreneur at the beginning of 30’s. She inspired me in a way that we should be passionate on whatever we are doing and we should not easily give up. Her ideas come out in producing the beauty products is brilliant as the woman nowadays are very concern about internal and external beauty.
BIODATA
Name: Datuk Joseph Taiyoob
Position: Managing Director Joseph Taiyoob Sdn Bhd
Origin: Georgetown, Pulau Pinang
Age: 52 years
Wife: Datin Yusnita Ramli
Children: Waseem (9), Safiya (6) and Safina (3)
Siblings: eldest of four siblings
Type of business: Dates, canned food, spices, dried foods and fruit juices
Datuk Yusuf Taiyoob, the Managing Director of Yusuf Taiyoob SDN BHD. A food and spice trader who has been in business since the 1980s, has seen the commercial landscape change over the years. One of the most famous product of the company are dates. The name Yusuf Taiyoob is not foreign to the country anymore as its name is always mentioned together with dates. The man himself, was given the name the king of dates. He started his business in 1979, selling perfumes at his grandfather's shop near the Bayan Lepas airport in Penang.
As the business did not turned out well, Yusuf said he decided to turn to selling consumer goods such as spices, beans, cashew nuts, almonds and raisins. Soon as the business grew larger and older, there is a need to increase the products of the company. There is where the picture of dates came in. The company started supplying dates on a small scale and as people started to recognise and trust their products over the years, then they decided too come out with their own brand. Some of their products are also named after the Datuk Yusuf Taiyoob's children like Wasem, Safiya (or Safia), and Safina.
Yusuf Taiyoob Sdn. Bhd. was established in the year 1988 and is a privately owned company based in Penang, Malaysia.
Yusuf Taiyoob Sdn. Bhd. is well known internationally and locally as a leading importer and distributor of dried fruitis and nuts, dates, bakery ingredients, spices, beans and pulses, herbal soaps and many other food ingredients and consumer products.
Yusuf Taiyoob Sdn. Bhd. today has a modern storage and distribution facility located on the mainland at Bukit Minyak, Penang which accomodates 7,000 metric tonnes in cold storage and 2,000 metric in ambient storage for all types of food and non food products. This facility serves as the distribution network for Malaysia and the neighbouring ASEAN countries.
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