Packing the right stuff at the right time

By Zhong Nan (China Daily) Updated: 2015-08-21 08:10

What is your biggest achievement to date as the head of UPS in the Asia Pacific region?

I have been in this role for over a year now and our business performance is stronger than ever. Within this short time, we launched several industry-leading products, strengthened UPS's intra-Asia capabilities, and expanded our brand footprint. And we're not done yet - we are just getting started. I am fortunate to be leading a team of motivated and driven people who have a strong sense of a shared responsibility for growth.

What I view as my achievement as a father is seeing my first-born son heading to university this September. I couldn't be more proud of him.

Has your style of management changed during your time in Asia? Could you share with us some details?

My management philosophy is about leading with integrity and empowering my team to take action, something that has been consistent throughout my career. I also lead by challenging my people and I do this by giving them opportunities to work in roles beyond their comfort zones. Recently, I appointed a young finance and accounting controller to the head of Asia Pacific strategy. We have since been rewarded with strong business performance and the growth of my staff and team.

How have you handled hardships and setbacks, if any?

In 2005, I was heading operations for the province of Alberta in Canada during the heady Alberta oil-sands boom where many businesses, UPS included, were facing severe recruitment and retention challenges. In difficult situations like these, you either put your head down or you choose to lift your team up through constant engagement. I chose the latter. I led a skeleton operations team of varying experiences, which also included the entire management team - managers from HR, finance and marketing functions. Together, we endured months of 14-16 hour work days with our sleeves rolled up during the day and backs bent over desks into the late hours.

We were committed to one purpose: delivering our customers' packages on-time. All this time, our service levels remained consistent and our customers were unaware of our challenges. In the end, we persevered and pulled through. When I visit our team in Alberta and see how well the staff that stayed on are doing today, I am filled with pride. Today, they lead their own strong operations team and have fulfilling careers.

What do you think about the Chinese Dream? What are your dreams or ambitions in China?

Before moving to Asia, I was inspired by China's rapid growth to become the second-largest economy in the world. During the past year, I have had the chance to see the transformation in person and admire the strong work ethics of the 6,000 UPS staff based in China. Through them I see the boundless energy of the Chinese and the grandeur of the Chinese Dream. I am excited to be part of the next phase of China's transformation, which UPS refers to as "Made in China 2.0".

Through my engagements with customers, I see a new generation of Chinese emerge as business leaders in their own right. They are no longer just dreamers, but innovators and activators. UPS' Chinese customers think boldly and take risks to promote their products globally. At the same time, they care about how their businesses impact their communities and the environment. It is my purpose and ambition to help customers achieve their goals, by offering products and services that allow them to compete globally and sustainably.

What are your hobbies? How do you spend your time off duty?

I spend a lot of time traveling for business, so when I am not away, spending time with my family is a high priority. As a family, we have been fortunate to live in different cities in Europe and now in Asia due to my work commitments. So exploring these new cities and cultures as a family is a favorite way for me to unwind.

What books are you reading now?

I have just finished reading Execution: The Discipline of Getting Things Done by Larry Bossidy & Ram Charan with Charles Burck. I also like to re-read a series of books that all UPS management staff possess - they are called our Legacy Books. These books contain great stories and excerpt of speeches from our founders, including Jim Casey, as far back as in the 1940's and 50's. I find a lot of the issues they address, including integrity, accountability, and training, are still very relevant in business today.

Could you tell me some places in China that have impressed you or cities that you have not been to, but want to explore?

My favorite place in China is Shanghai. As the epicenter of commerce in China, the city radiates energy and excitement. It is also home of many innovative businesses and entrepreneurs, and where UPS is headquartered in China.

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