HRM Asia Watch List 2018: Clayton Tan
- HRM Asia Newsroom
HR technology is the next big thing. Any HR leader who can bring that tech savvy to the job has considerable leverage over their peers – and Clayton Tan, currently the HR Director for Southeast Asia at Vinda Group SEA, is no doubt one of them.
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In addition to 10 years of direct experience as a HR leader, Tan has also founded his own successful HR tech start-up, WorkExcite PLT.
This stint wrapped up when WorkExcite was brought under the auspices of another growing HR tech company, leaving Tan free to return to HR with the first-hand knowledge of how to be quick and agile within a start-up environment.
Beyond that, Tan has done everything from specialising in specific functions, especially learning & development, to leading HR teams in regional roles, to even honing his consultancy skills.
During a stint at IBM Global Business Services, Tan hopped between Brunei, Singapore, India, and China, and consulted for multi-national companies to spearhead transformation and change management projects.
“To really make an impact to organisations, it’s not just about people learning, but how the organisation develops and evolves as a whole,” he notes.
These days, he’s looking to create a unique employer value proposition approach that blends the “best of both” worlds, as it were. Vinda began life as a Chinese company, but since 2016, its majority shareholder has been Essity, a global hygiene and health with headquarters in Sweden.
At Vinda Group SEA, then, the challenge for Tan has been to create a unique blend of the dual cultures – Vinda’s ‘East’ with Essity’s ‘West’, as it were.
“The Eastern approach is perhaps more focused on speed and results; helping people maximize productivity and recognising achievements Whereas the Western approach leans more towards collective decisions and people empowerment.
“But interestingly, blending the two has actually been great for innovation and growth in today’s environment,” says Tan.
The HRM Asia Watch List aims to showcase the up and coming generation of HR leadership talent in Southeast Asia. The list will be unveiled daily between September 27 and October 19, 2018. Check the dedicated archive for the latest updates, follow #watchlist2018 on social media, or see below.
Introduction | Welcome address by Tom Mason
Profile #1: Jaspreet Kakar | Profile #2: Dianne Goette | Profile #3: Chen Fong Tuan
Profile #4: Felicia Teh | Profile #5: Monica Oudang | Profile #6: Evangeline Chua
Profile #7: Agapol Na Songkhla | Profile #8: Clayton Tan | Profile #9: Tony Tan
Profile #10: Vanessa Mercado-Maningas | Profile #11: Jahja Soenarta | Profile #12: Minn Yan
