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Despite the challenging business environment presented by the pandemic, Malina Ngai, CEO of A.S. Watson (Asia & Europe), has achieved remarkable success in driving business growth, innovation and sustainability.
Driving Business Growth
Malina has demonstrated exceptional leadership in driving the company’s business success. Despite of COVID-19, A.S. Watson has recorded a revenue of USD21.6 billion, with a growth of 6.3% growth compared to 2020. She has also led the company to entered 3 new markets, namely, UAE, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia, adding to a total of 28 markets. The company now reaches one-third of global population. As a result, the company’s global store network has expanded to over 16,150, representing a growth of almost 8%.
Successful O+O Platform Strategy
Malina understands the importance of staying ahead of the competition. She has championed the O+O (Offline plus Online) platform strategy, which is very different from the traditional strategy of O2O. The traditional strategy of O2O drove customers from one channel to another, however O+O leverages the Group’s extensive store network to create an integrated experience for customers across all channels. As a result, O+O customers spend 3 times what an instore-only customer spends.
Innovating Retail Technology
Under Malina’s leadership, A.S. Watson has launched ground-breaking innovations of virtual makeup try-on services like ColourMe and Foundation Finder in our retail brands’ mobile apps, using AI and AR technology to offer customers virtual makeup try-on service, identify their perfect foundation colors and shades. These innovative tools have been well-received by customers with over 40 million usages.
Accelerating Sustainability Efforts
Malina understands customers nowadays focus on the social responsibility of a brand and long before this, she has been the driving force behind A.S. Watson’s commitment to Sustainability. She is the Chairperson of the Group Sustainability Committee, led the company in setting Sustainability Visions, including targets to reduce GHG emissions (scope 1 and 2) by 40% and provide 10,000 free surgeries to cleft children by 2030. By the end of 2021, A.S. Watson had already surpassed its GHG emissions reduction target, achieving a 42% reduction. Additionally, A.S. Watson had already achieved 50% of its target to offer free surgeries to 10,000 cleft children by the end of 2022.
As a Board Director of The Consumer Goods Forum, Malina Ngai is committed to driving positive change on the health of people and planet in an industry level. She works together with other global retail & manufacture leaders to create a better world through better business practices.
Empowering Women
Malina is a passionate advocate for empowering women. She spearheaded Watsons’ The New Beautiful campaign in 2022 to empower women to Look Good, Do Good, and Feel Great. This year, she evolved the campaign to become “DARE TO BE” this year, inspiring 90 million customers to be confident and achieve their full potential.
Leading with Empathy in Turbulent Times
Malina has been a caring leader to the people and community. When the war started between Ukraine and Russia, she supported Watsons colleagues in Ukraine with early salary release for daily necessity purchase and also granted humanitarian donations to the Ukrainian for their hygiene and medical needs. Malina also paid a visit to Ukraine’s capital Kiev as CEO from multinational to show the support from international community.
With significant business growth, innovation and sustainability efforts while demonstrating empathetic leadership, Malina sets a good example to CEOs around the world on how to lead a global retailer in turbulent times.
Nomination Title: Malina Ngai, CEO
