Behind a successful implementation are the individuals driving the process. It is rare for treasury transformation to take place without a glitch. In complex and multi-jurisdictional projects, they often take place in phases. Along the way, coordination, consistency and collaboration are vital to a successful outcome.
The Asset Triple A Treasury, Trade and Risk Management Awards, the longest-running recognition for excellence in treasury and finance in the Asia-Pacific and Middle East, recognize the critical role CFOs, treasurers and their service providers play. Every year, we celebrate the achievements of these individuals and the teams with The Asset’s annual Triple A Special Achievement Awards for outstanding contribution to treasury, trade and risk management.
Each of the awardees have turned challenge into opportunity, using foresight, creativity and a deep understanding of treasury and finance within their organization. Their efforts have been paid off with streamlined processes, greater control and visibility, improved cost of funding and transforming the treasury and finance function to become a partner driving business growth into future.
The 2015 winners are:
TRIPLE A CFO OF THE YEAR
Retailing
Lelaina Lim, CFO, RSH
When Lelaina Lim joined RSH in 2008, it was not long before she had to step into the breach to avert a catastrophe following solvency issues with the group’s majority shareholder. The company looked at a management buyout before considering a takeover offer. Along the way, she had to refinance when possible to lower funding costs while insulating the business from the ownership uncertainty.
Services
Bernhard Schmitt, CFO, DKSH Holdings
Bernhard Schmitt has been with DKSH for more than a decade becoming the CFO of the Swiss-based but Asian-focused group. Among other projects, Schmitt led the implementation of SAP and a rationalization of banking relationships globally.
Automotive
Ajay Seth, CFO, Maruti Suzuki India
Somebody who never rests on laurels earned in the past, Ajay Seth devised and implemented a set of long-term strategies at India’s largest car maker in 2014. Core in his efforts are the anticipation of emerging risks, efficient foreign currency risk mitigation and the pursuit of productivity gains.
TRIPLE A TREASURER OF THE YEAR
Food and beverage
Aron Åkesson, regional treasurer, Asia, Carlsberg
Carlsberg has grown in the Asia-Pacific through both organic and through acquisitions, which Åkesson has overseen from a treasury perspective during the past four years. Last year, Carlsberg acquired Chongqing Beer, broadening its China footprint significantly. Despite structural and regulatory complexities, Carlsberg was able to integrate it into its existing treasury system in record time.
Financial services
Philip Fernandez, corporate treasurer, DBS
There are few jobs exposed to more regulatory and structural shifts than that of a group treasurer at a fast-growing regional bank. Philip Fernandez is in charge of balance sheet and risk management at DBS leading strategic initiatives including cost-efficient funding to help the bank meet liquidity and capital ratios.
Telecommunications
Johnny Ho, head of regional treasury centre, Greater China & Japan, Nokia
In charge of Nokia’s working capital and risk management for the Greater China and Japan regions, Johnny Ho oversees an important segment for the group. On multiple occasions, he has leveraged on policy reforms that helped the group manage liquidity better such as implementing a two-way cross-border FX cash pool in China, among others.
TRIPLE A TREASURY TEAM OF THE YEAR
Chemicals
AkzoNobel, led by Jarno Timmerman, head of treasury South East Asia Pacific
With a presence across 20 countries in Asia, exposure to risk was and continues to be an issue at AkzoNobel. Using an automated multi-bank approach to FX hedging, Jarno Timmerman and his team has translated it into cost savings for the group and at the same time pursued projects pursued in 2014 to deliver efficiencies.
Food and beverage
Carlton & United Breweries, led by Ian Wilson, treasury and financial accounting manager
The treasury team at Carlton & United Breweries seized the moment that the acquisition by SAB Miller presented and embarked on a large automation project in 2014. Through the use of various technology tools, Ian Wilson and the treasury team now enjoys end-to-end automation from the point of invoicing to final reconciliation regardless of payment method.
Automotive
Daimler Southeast Asia, led by Michelle Ang, head of regional treasury centre, Singapore
Bank-agnostic communication received a lot of attention in 2014 at Daimler. Michelle Ang and her team built on SWIFT to streamline payment processes from its in-house bank across the region, which also uses best-in-class approaches to risk management.
Conglomerate
Reliance Industries, led by Soumyo Dutta, group treasurer
In 12 months, Soumyo Dutta and his treasury team at Reliance Industries in India completely revamped its risk management approach, resulting in multi-million dollar savings on hedging costs and a significant reduction in borrowing costs. Using an innovative approach to its treasury organization, which immerses treasury staff into each of the conglomerate’s business units coupled with the smarter use of technology, it resulted in significant reduction in implementation time.
The Asset will host an awards dinner on April 30 2015 at the Four Seasons in Hong Kong to honour these individuals.
View the winners of the Industry Achievement and Leadership Awards by clicking here.
Overview of The Asset Triple A Treasury, Trade and Risk Management Awards 2015
