On 2 April, NIPSEA Group marked an important milestone as colleagues across our global network came together for our inaugural “Hello from our Group CEO” broadcast. Anchored in our Lean For Growth (LFG) initiative, the day brought a clear focus to reinforcing our shared direction and ambition for global excellence, while concurrently celebrating the localised contributions of our people on the ground. By connecting teams across regions, we not only strengthened our alignment but also celebrated the diverse ways our people drive impact every day.
An Exclusive Global Dialogue with Our Group CEO
The momentum of the day was driven by the highly anticipated “Hello from our Group CEO” Zoom session. Open to all employees, this highly special broadcast connected colleagues across 19 geographies. We were incredibly proud to welcome participants tuning in from India, Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, Türkiye, Kazakhstan, Bangladesh, China, Egypt, Hong Kong, Pakistan, Vietnam, Malaysia, Myanmar, Korea, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, and Japan.
During the session, Group CEO Wee Siew Kim shared his vision for the 2025 LFG Excellence Awards, a highly competitive global platform designed to recognise the most impactful initiatives across the NIPSEA network as the programme marks its remarkable ten year anniversary. Reflecting on the concept of excellence, he reminded the organisation that it is never a fixed state but a continuous redefinition. True excellence is found in everyday actions that align with our core values and the overarching purpose to enrich the living world with the power of science and imagination.
Moving from “Good” to “Winning”
To help teams elevate their upcoming global LFG submissions, Mr. Wee highlighted the distinct difference between a “good” initiative and a “winning” one. While good work is necessary and often “good enough” in a resource-constrained world, a winning initiative carries a unique wow factor. Instinctively, winning outcomes bring forth a deep sense of pride to the organisation, directly help the customer, leave the world a little better, and generate sustainable financial success.
He also emphasised that sustaining this level of impact requires two critical core values: Agility and Stamina. In a constantly changing environment, teams must develop both the mindset and muscle to stay agile, continuously recalibrating to thrive even during periods of global disequilibrium. Crucially, this agility must be paired with the stamina to persevere, ensuring we do not fall into routine or complacency as we continue our quest for excellence.
Insights from the LFG Excellence Committee
To provide a holistic view of what makes a successful submission, members of the LFG Excellence Award Committee and judging panel took the stage to share their expert perspectives. Ian Millard, Business Development GM for DuluxGroup, reminded teams that a strong idea alone is not enough. He stressed that winning entries must demonstrate a clear strategy with proven, measurable outcomes, whether that value is driven by incremental growth or operational efficiency. Building on this need for solid results, Director of Group Finance Ming Heng highlighted that financial excellence is about balancing bold growth with strict cost discipline. Initiatives must translate into quantifiable, trackable financial outcomes that sustainably strengthen the business without diluting returns.
Beyond the numbers, Lim Teck, VP of Group Sustainability & HSE, reinforced that sustainability is no longer an optional add-on, but the very foundation of our competitive edge. True excellence requires embedding ESG priorities deeply into our strategy to meet evolving customer expectations and drive towards our Net Zero 2050 commitment. Finally, Jo-lynn Yap, Senior Manager of Group Marketing and Committee Co-chair, brought the discussion together by highlighting the power of cross-functional collaboration. Noting that the most impactful solutions often emerge when teams break down departmental silos, she urged everyone to embody an “insatiable appetite” for continuous improvement and to always ask how we can push our boundaries even further.
Honouring Our Local Heroes at NPM
Conjunctive to the global broadcast, our regional teams took the opportunity to host localised LFG celebrations. Earlier that morning at the Nippon Paint Malaysia Multi-Purpose Hall, local and V-tech colleagues came together for a dedicated LFG Appreciation Ceremony. While the global awards focus on large-scale, high-impact initiatives, this local gathering served as a heartfelt acknowledgement of everyday grassroots contributions, particularly highlighting achievements in safety and sales. It was an especially inspiring morning as several long-serving leaders were also honoured, reflecting a strong culture of commitment, continuity, and leading by example.
