HR job moves from Sime Darby Property, AIA Singapore, SEEK Asia, and Randstad RiseSmart

Among the new appointments, Sime Darby Property has appointed Michelle Ann Iking as its Chief People Officer.

Here are the major promotions and job moves in the world of HR.

If you’ve been promoted or if you’ve moved to a new company, send us your profile and photo and we will announce your news here – just email aditis@humanresourcesonline.net.

Michelle Ann Iking appointed as Sime Darby Property's new Chief People Officer

Sime Darby Property, a property developer, welcomed Malaysia-based Michelle Ann Iking as the Group's Chief People Officer on 2 August 2021.

Announcing this, the firm said Iking's appointment will drive the Group's people priorities and strategic direction, in creating a high performance and collaborative workforce that operates in an agile and empowered environment.

Irma Hadikusuma to tackle AIA's newly-created role of Chief Product Proposition Officer

AIA Singapore, a pan-Asian life insurance group, has appointed Irma Hadikusuma as its Chief Product Proposition Officer (CPPO) - a newly created role as part of AIA Singapore’s commitment to focusing on reorienting strategic priorities. The CPPOwill report to Wong Sze Keed, Chief Executive Officer of AIA Singapore.

Hadikusuma joined AIA Singapore in 2013 as Head of Customer Segment Management. This was followed by a five-year stint as head of the product, funds development and implementation team, overseeing the development, management, and implementation of products as well as investment-linked Policy funds in Singapore. Most recently, she held the position of Regional Business Development Director at the regional chief executive office of AIA Group, covering Singapore and Brunei, Malaysia, Indonesia, Cambodia, and Myanmar.

On the appointment, Wong stated: "With her extensive and rounded experience in marketing and actuarial science, Irma will lead AIA Singapore’s ambition to elevate our innovative offerings to a whole new level, all with the intention of fulfilling our brand promise of empowering Singaporeans to live healthier, longer, better lives.”

A Fellow of the Institute of the Actuaries, UK, Hadikusuma has held several actuarial, business development, and marketing roles throughout a career spanning more than 18 years; a testament to her drive and versatility.

The newly set-up product proposition team will provide strategic direction to drive the innovation, development, and management of a compelling, customer-centric, and synergetic proposition portfolio for all AIA Singapore’s distribution channels. 

Kazunori Yamamoto and Paula Sugawara take on new roles at Randstad RiseSmart

Randstad RiseSmart, a global outplacement and career mobility provider, has announced the appointment of Kazunori Yamamoto as Country Director and Paula Sugawara as Director of Practice in Japan, effective August 2021.

In a press release, the company said the appointment of Yamamoto as the country director is an important milestone for RiseSmart's Asia Pacific (APAC) expansion, as it provides local leadership from an industry expert; while Sugawara's appointment as practice director enables RiseSmart customers and their employees to benefit from her significant career transition and coaching experience in Japan.

Yamamoto has international experience in career mobility, staffing, and recruitment, and has held leadership positions in the US, Shanghai, and Tokyo, including as managing director for Right Management in Japan. In his new role, he will focus on building relationships with locally-based organizations and developing the RiseSmart brand experience in Japan. He leads a team of experienced coaches and resume writers with expertise in career development. transition, executive coaching and women in leadership.

Meanwhile, Sugawara is equipped with extensive knowledge of the region's talent mobility market, having lived in Japan for over 30 years, served as country lead for Lee Hecht Harrison, established her own consulting business, Tokyo Consulting Services, and previously worked as an investment analyst. She also has firsthand experience overcoming C-Suite executive challenges, as she spent eight years in senior management. 

Shen Tham and Jane Cruz-Walker are SEEK Asia's newest Chief Technology Officer, Asia and Chief Marketing Officer, Asia

SEEK Asia, which includes brands JobStreet and JobsDB, has called on Shen Tham as Chief Technology Officer, Asia, and Jane Cruz-Walker as Chief Marketing Officer, Asia.

Tham has over 20 years of experience in various technical and leadership positions across a large diverse domain in financial, banking, insurance, media, and digital. In his most recent position, Shen held the position of Chief Technology Officer for REA Group operations in International and Asia markets. Prior to REA Group, Shen was at Nomura, a global investment bank based in Hong Kong, and had consulted with ThoughtWorks, a global technology consultancy based in Australia and the United States.

In this new role, he will be accountable for partnering across the Asia business to shape and deliver a transformed Technology strategy and capability in that region, reporting to Lisa Tobin, Managing Director, Technology, and Peter Bithos, Chief Executive Officer, Asia.

On this appointment, Lisa commented: “Shen brings really deep and relevant experience in our Asia geographies, including a deep understanding of the local technology talent market. His passion for great technology, which transforms how a business competes and goes to market, will be a fantastic addition to our team.”

Meanwhile, Cruz-Walker will be responsible for building and evolving the JobStreet and JobsDB brands for both the jobseekers’ and employers’ sides of the marketplace across SEEK Asia’s six markets in her role as CMO. She will report to Peter Bithos, CEO, Asia.

She brings with her over 20 years of experience in tech, media & telco (TMT) in both start-up and large-scale organisations within Singtel, MediaQuest and PLDT groups, where she held key leadership roles across marketing, communications, commercial business units, business development, and country operations. Prior to her TMT cross-over, Cruz-Walker held marketing positions, leading FMCG brands in Colgate-Palmolive (Philippines, APAC and Latin America), San Miguel Corporation, and Magnolia-Nestle.

Find more HR job moves here.  

Photos / Provided - (L-R): Kazunori Yamamoto country director, Shen Tham Chief Technology Officer, Jane Cruz-Walker Chief Marketing Officer, Irma Hadikusuma Chief Product Proposition Officer, Paula Sugawara director of practice,​ Michelle Ann Iking Chief People Officer