Three managers honoured at IMAA ceremony

THREE outstanding managers yesterday received the prestigious International Management Action Award (IMAA) at the Raffles City Convention Centre.

Guest-of-Honour Lim Boon Heng, minister, prime minister's office, presented the awards to Douglas Foo, CEO Apex-Pal International; Helen Khoo, executive director, Wing Tai Retail Limited; and Seah Moon Ming, president, Singapore Technologies Electronics.

Commented Sat Pal Khattar, chairman, IMAA Awards Council, 'The key is managers focusing their efforts on where they can make a difference. Management impact. . . is the zeitgeist of our times, the spirit of IMAA.'

Under Mrs Khoo's leadership, Wing Tai Retail has been getting its employees to establish an emotional attachment to the brands, the stores and Wing Tai itself.

Talking to BT, Mrs Khoo said that this is done through organising a lot of functions every year like product seminars, annual dinners and breakfast meetings where continuous communication between management and staff of different brands can take place.

In addition, Mrs Khoo stressed the importance of employees to 'live and breathe the brand they're working for'.

In his acceptance speech, Mr Seah singled out 'courage' as the willingness for management action to address the challenges and uncertainties.

He quoted Mahatma Gandhi, 'You may never know what results come of your action, but if you do nothing, there will be no result.'

Speaking of his management style, Mr Foo said that his policies are very open-door and people-centric, and that he believes strongly in team spirit.

'I like to be involved and to be very hands-on instead of taking a macro approach.'

Administered by the Chartered Management Institute (CMI), the IMAA is an international award to recognise outstanding individuals who have demonstrated exceptional ability in taking management action to achieve sustainable results for an organisation, society or nation.