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KUALA LUMPUR: Synergy ESCO Malaysia Sdn. Bhd. is making history in the nation’s sustainability journey, achieving monumental progress in energy efficiency and carbon reduction. At its recent event, The Rise of Green ESG, held at Nexus Bangsar South, Synergy ESCO brought together sustainability pioneers from Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Penang, and Pahang. Supported by Lembaga Perumahan dan Hartanah Selangor (LPHS), Majlis Bandaraya Shah Alam (MBSA), Majlis Bandaraya Subang Jaya (MBSJ), 14 Facilities Management Companies, and COB KL, the event marked a collaborative push toward Malaysia’s Zero Carbon 2050 vision. Through its innovative Green Initiative Program, Synergy ESCO has onboarded 180 clients and deployed over 600,000 Ultra High Energy Efficiency LED Lights, cutting energy consumption by an estimated 530 million kWh—enough to power 1.5 million Malaysian homes annually. The program also prevents 400,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions, equivalent to saving 10 million trees over the next decade. These LED lights boast industry-leading energy savings of 72%, a lifespan of 34 years under daily use, and near-zero defect rates, significantly reducing electronic waste. “Synergy ESCO is proud to be at the forefront of Malaysia’s green transformation,” said Mansfield Wong, Chairman and CEO of Unity Group Holdings International Limited. “By implementing cutting-edge solutions and fostering collaboration across sectors, we are proving that sustainability and innovation go hand in hand. This is not just a commitment to the environment, but to the communities we serve.” Beyond lighting solutions, Synergy ESCO is championing lifestyle changes through its “Green 1 Day Program,” encouraging participants to adopt a weekly plant-based diet. This small change has resulted in a 50% reduction in CO2 emissions linked to dietary choices, signaling a shift from global warming to global cooling. The company is also redefining urban agriculture with its Shine+ Digital Farming Technology, combining Ultra High Energy Efficiency LED Lights with a Chilled Water System. This innovation delivers 10 times higher yields than traditional methods, uses one-third of the energy compared to current digital farming systems, and produces pesticide-free crops, addressing both food security and sustainability challenges. As part of a global vision rooted in local action, Synergy ESCO’s parent company, Unity Group Holdings International Limited, a Hong Kong-listed ESG leader, is pursuing a secondary listing on Bursa Malaysia. “We believe the secondary listing would further connect our business focus in Malaysia with local heritage so that we would be able to create value and benefit more effectively for the people in Malaysia,” added Wong. This move underscores their commitment to Malaysia’s sustainability agenda and to delivering tangible value to local communities. The achievements of Synergy ESCO underline a pivotal moment for Malaysia’s green future, as corporations, local councils, and communities unite to tackle climate change. With its focus on innovation and collaboration, Synergy ESCO is setting a benchmark for how businesses can drive environmental progress while enhancing societal well-being.

SINGAPORE: Singapore landed in first place globally in the public administration index surpassing Norway, Canada and Denmark, and Finland, according to the Blavatnik Index of Public Administration. The city-state ranked first in two of the index’s four domains namely, Public Policy and National Delivery. Additionally, Singapore ranked fifth in the Strategy and Leadership domain, tied with the United States. It also ranked first in the Public Policy domain with Finland; and National Delivery. Meanwhile, it placed fourth in the People and Process domain with Canada and Denmark. It followed Norway, Estonia and New Zealand.–SINGAPORE BUSINESS REVIEW 

New Delhi: GMR Group has announced the promotion of Bithal Bhardwaj as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Gramax, its dedicated cybersecurity solutions company. Prior to this elevation, Bhardwaj served as the Group Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) at GMR for five years, where he spearheaded the cybersecurity vision, strategy, and initiatives across the group’s diverse portfolio. With over two decades of global experience in cybersecurity, Bhardwaj brings a wealth of expertise to his new role. Before joining GMR Group, he spent 13 years at GE in various leadership capacities. His most recent role at GE was as CISO for Global Regions, where he managed cybersecurity operations across Latin America, Russia, Europe, MENAT, Sub-Saharan Africa, Asia Pacific, South Asia, and Greater China. His previous responsibilities at GE also included serving as CISO for South Asia & China and leading the India Cybersecurity hub. Earlier in his career, Bhardwaj was a Principal Consultant at GENPACT, further strengthening his credentials as a seasoned cybersecurity leader. A graduate in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from the University of Pune, Bhardwaj is widely recognized for his strategic vision and leadership in cybersecurity. Founded in 1978, GMR Group is a leading infrastructure conglomerate, renowned for being the fourth-largest private airport developer globally. The group operates major airports such as Delhi, Hyderabad, and New Goa and is currently developing greenfield airport projects in India and Greece. The company’s international footprint includes the development of Kualanamu International Airport in Medan, Indonesia, and technical services support for Mactan Cebu International Airport in the Philippines. Additionally, GMR plays a pivotal role in India’s power sector. Under Bhardwaj’s leadership, Gramax is poised to enhance its cybersecurity offerings and solidify its position as a leader in the evolving digital security landscape.–APAC NEWS NETWORK

MUMBAI: Raghu Chandrashekar has taken on the role of Head of Human Resources (HR) for Varian EMEA at Siemens Healthineers, overseeing HR functions across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. With a strong background in global HR strategies, leadership development, and human capital management, Raghu will focus on fostering collaboration, enhancing organizational efficiency, and supporting the company’s mission of advancing healthcare solutions. Raghu brings extensive experience from his previous roles at Siemens Healthineers, where he held senior positions like Global HR Business Partner, and Senior Vice President & Head of Human Resources. In this capacity, he worked on executive development and improving organizational performance. Additionally, he has held leadership positions at ABB and Flextronics Design Consumer Electronics (India), specializing in global HR functions and talent strategies. A TAPMI alumnus, Raghu holds an MBA in HR and a PGDM in Industrial Relations and Personnel Management from Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan. In his new position, he aims to drive innovation and effective HR strategies aligned with Varian’s goal of improving patient outcomes. His leadership will be pivotal in ensuring that HR initiatives support broader organizational objectives. This appointment reflects Siemens Healthineers’ ongoing commitment to strengthening its workforce and advancing healthcare outcomes through strategic HR leadership. Raghu’s expertise will contribute to creating a collaborative work environment while supporting the company’s mission of delivering advanced healthcare solutions.

She joins after 16 years at Google. “Her deep understanding of our audiences, our industry and our region will only fuel our ability to grow our brand” StackAdapt, a leading multi-channel advertising platform, is pleased to announce the appointment of Alessandra Alessio as director of marketing for the APAC region. Alessandra brings just under two-decades of experience in the digital advertising industry to this pivotal role, where she will spearhead StackAdapt’s growth initiatives across Asia-Pacific. Based in Singapore, Alessandra joins StackAdapt following a distinguished 16-year career at Google, covering B2B marketing and sales roles, with a focus on adtech, measurement, and data privacy solutions. Alessandra has worked in APAC for twelve years, of which eight years was spent in the Australian market. In her most recent role, she served in the APAC Scaled Ads marketing team. In her new position, Alessandra will focus on elevating StackAdapt’s brand and presence across the APAC region. She will lead marketing strategies to showcase the company’s full suite of capabilities and support brands navigating an increasingly complex digital landscape. “I was drawn to StackAdapt by its powerful multi-channel media buying platform and its incredible culture, which prioritizes delivering exceptional service to agency and brand clients,” said Alessandra. “With significant growth plans for APAC, I’m thrilled to help drive the next phase of expansion and innovation in the region.” The appointment of Alessandra follows the creation of a senior executive team across the APAC region this year, including recent appointments in Hong Kong and Japan. “I’m delighted that Alessandra chose to join StackAdapt,” said StackAdapt Asia-Pacific VP Liam McCarten. “Her deep understanding of our audiences, our industry and our region will only fuel our ability to grow our brand & our business. We’ve made a lot of progress in growing our visibility across APAC, but no doubt Alessandra will lead strategies and tactics that will elevate our standing and differentiation even further. We really believe we’re building a standout team in the industry. Alessandra fuels that belief.”

BNY has appointed Ashvin Parkash as head of global markets trading for Asia Pacific, according to a statement. Based in Singapore, he will report to head of global markets trading Jason Vitale and head of markets international Nelius De Groot. Parkash has 25 years of industry experience, most recently at Nomura where he was responsible for electronic distribution across fixed income and FX. Previously, he also worked at BNP Paribas, Citibank and Lehman Brothers. «APAC continues to present real opportunities for our business, as we see growing demand from our clients looking for differentiated execution services and high-quality solutions to streamline their operating model,» said Vitale. «I’m thrilled to welcome [Ashvin], whose track record in growing businesses and experience in product strategy make him an ideal fit as we deliver high-quality solutions for our clients across markets.

PETALING JAYA: Pahang recorded seven active gold production operations last year, yielding a total of 720.8kg, valued at RM155.6 million, said menteri besar Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail.  He added that a gold belt has been established in the central region of the peninsula, covering areas such as Lipis, Raub, Maran, Pekan, and Rompin. “The mineral and geoscience department (JMG) has estimated the inferred gold resource in Pahang at 63.44 metric tonnes, with a value of approximately RM10.8 billion,” he said during the state assembly sitting at Wisma Sri Pahang today. Wan Rosdy was responding to a question from Chan Chun Kuang (PKR-Semambu), who inquired about the expected gold deposits in Pahang and how long these resources would last. He further explained that the lifespan of the mine, which determines the duration of these gold deposits, cannot be accurately predicted as it depends on a variety of feasibility factors. Among the factors that determine the lifespan of the gold deposits are the total measured gold reserves, the scale of mining operations, the mine’s production rate, as well as economic considerations, current policies, and advancements in mining technology. Additionally, Wan Rosdy reported that the royalties from Pahang gold sales had exceeded RM10 million as of November, with RM5 million recorded in 2023.–BERNAMA

KUALA LUMPUR: IPG Mediabrands, a media holding company under Interpublic Group, has appointed Darren Yuen as chief executive officer (CEO) in Malaysia. Yuen takes over the role previously held by Bala Pomaleh for eight years. With his new position, Yuen is set to drive IPG Mediabrands growth. Previously, Yuen held the role of CEO at Initiative Malaysia. He has over 27 years of experience in the industry, spending eight years within the IPG Mediabrands network in Malaysia. Leigh Terry, CEO of IPG Mediabrands APAC, said, “I could not be more pleased to appoint the Malaysia CEO from within our own network ranks. With his passion, drive, and unsurpassed knowledge of the Malaysian media landscape, Darren embodies our commitment to craft and innovation on this strategic transformation journey.” “Bala has spent 8.5 years building IPG Mediabrands Malaysia to the much celebrated, industry-leading media network it stands proud as today. He leaves with our thanks and appreciation for his commitment and lasting impact,” Terry added. “I am honoured to take on the role of CEO IPG Mediabrands Malaysia. This is such an exciting time for our business, and a fantastic opportunity to empower our talented network of people to push the boundaries of how we can deliver exceptional value to our clients,” Yuen commented.

TANGERANG: Minister of State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) Erick Thohir has said that the airfares offered by several domestic airlines for the Christmas and New Year holidays have declined by 10 percent. “I have checked them (airfares); they are already correct and proper; Citilink and Pelita Air (fares) are already proper according to the directive of President Prabowo Subianto,” he informed here on Wednesday. He said that the reduction in air ticket prices is the result of strong synergy between the Ministry of SOEs and the Ministry of Transportation, as well as the full support of President Prabowo. According to the minister, cheaper flight tickets during the Christmas and New Year holiday period will ease the burden on people planning a vacation or homecoming. “We are also grateful to (state oil and gas company) Pertamina and the airport operators on how they can help reduce (flight) ticket prices according to the President’s instruction,” he said. Thohir added that in the future, his side and SOE leaders will continue to monitor flight ticket prices at the end of every month. Meanwhile, President Director of national carrier Garuda Indonesia Wamildan Tsani Panjaitan said that his side has reduced ticket prices for special domestic route flights for the period from December 19, 2024, to January 3, 2025. According to him, the 10-percent reduction in flight fares is a follow-up to President Prabowo’s directive. He added that Garuda Indonesia and its subsidiary Citilink have prepared a total of 98 aircraft to serve passengers during the year-end holiday.

JAKARTA: Minister of Investment and Downstreaming/head of the Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM), Rosan Roeslani, has informed that Apple will likely invest in cell phone component production in Indonesia.   According to him, communication is still ongoing to ensure that the investment commitment is fulfilled and is in line with the agreement desired by the Indonesian government. “The progress is quite good. We are still fine-tuning and hopefully, tonight, we will talk again. Apple has conveyed their investment in several components,” Roeslani informed at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta on Thursday. He said that the agreement regarding Apple’s investment in Indonesia could be reached within one week. However, he did not provide details on the components that will be produced in Indonesia through the construction of a factory. The company is planning to produce both internal and external components of mobile phones later. “Hopefully, within next week, we can receive Apple’s written commitment,” Roeslani informed. Earlier, Industry Minister Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita expressed the hope that Apple’s planned investment of US$1 billion would be realized through a production facility investment scheme or the construction of a factory in Indonesia. “By God’s willing, Apple will take the first scheme namely the investment in production facilities,” he said in Surabaya on Wednesday. According to him, the Ministry of Industry has been intensively communicating with Roeslani to prepare the best scheme for supporting the investment plan of the American technology major. The scheme, techniques, as well as industrial areas that will be offered to Apple still need to be determined, he said. He emphasized that Apple’s decision to invest US$1 billion in Indonesia reflects the government’s commitment to prioritizing the principle of justice in doing business. The government snubbed Apple’s earlier investment proposal worth US$100 million as it was not considered proportional to its sales in Indonesia, which reached 2.5 million iPhone units in 2023.