HRM Asia Watch List 2018: Agapol Na Songkhla
- Yamini Chinnuswamy
Agapol Na Songkhla is a quintessential multi-hyphenate.
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He is fluent in Thai, Japanese, and English, and succeeded in the broadcast, consulting, and banking worlds before finding his way into HR.
In his ongoing role as Chief People Officer of Thai Beverage, Songkhla has the hefty task of overseeing a 59,000 strong workforce.
Only half of that figure comprises of employees based in Thailand; the rest are spread across Southeast Asian nations including Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam, and Myanmar, working for iconic food and beverage brands such as F&N and Oishi.
“ThaiBev has grown from a national champion status, and it’s not stopping,” says Songkhla.
From his vantage point, strategically planning for such business growth has been both challenging and fun.
“We’re putting great effort towards creating regional capabilities, and establishing trust in our new markets.”
Prior to joining ThaiBev, Songkhla also clocked in a stint as Head of Strategy and Transformation, at TMB Bank; just one of a few high-level strategic functions he served during his eight years there.
And he’s bringing all that business experience – along with his years as a principal and project lead at the Boston Consulting Group – to bear at ThaiBev, as he works with his people team there to bring transformation to the next level.
After all, he points out, “Transformation is never-ending.”
Another current focus is the embrace of the multi-generational workforce. That does not just mean catering to so-called “digital” millennials, but also to baby boomers reaching or passing retirement age.
“It’s about inspiring the idea that people are at the center of how we do things,” he explains. “I’m proud to be able to say that we believe in the potential of people – and that we are able to get that journey moving for not just us, but for our partners as well.”
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 #hrmwatchlist 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
