Welcome South East Asia to the Smollan Team!

The month of July marked a new chapter of our Smollan story as we welcomed the South East Asia (SEA) team into our Smollan family! Comprised of five markets: Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam, SEA has merged with the MESA team to form a new region – MEA, under the leadership of Ridwaan Bedderson. This milestone marks the dawn of a new era with 2 300 new talented team members joining us.

Our journey in the SEA region began with a clear purpose – to introduce the Smollan brand to not just our employees, but also to our clients, partners, and the wider public. The brand launch has been carefully orchestrated in three phases, with the first two phases focused on fostering pride, ownership, and unity within the new brand identity. Leading up to the launch, weekly communication and teaser emails were shared followed by a virtual meet and greet from Dave and Doug. This set the tone for what was to come. Guided by the leadership team; our Chief Executive and Chief People Officer], the launch ignited a sense of belonging and passion amongst the team members.

MEA Chief Executive, Ridwaan Bedderson, shared his appreciation, "The success of these roadshows is a testament to the incredible dedication and enthusiasm displayed by our teams across the SEA region. We are building not just a brand, but a community that is driven by shared values and a common vision."

One of the highlights was the involvement of our employees who shared the Smollan identity in their local languages, creating an authentic and heartfelt connection with each market. This gesture resonated deeply with the local teams, reinforcing the brand's commitment to unity amidst diversity.

Our Chief People Officer, George Henderson, echoed this sentiment stating, "It's truly inspiring to witness the entire team coming together with such passion. I thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to meet the team in person and to witness the incredible synergy and collaboration that characterizes our group."

Our new SEA team members were quick to express their gratitude and enthusiasm for being part of this remarkable journey. Many commended the roadshows as not just a unifying event, but also a source of immense excitement for what the future holds. The positive feedback received highlighted the success of the launch in fostering a sense of unity and excitement.

Click here for some highlights on how the roadshows turned out.

As the journey unfolds, the Smollan SEA team remains focused on building upon this foundation. The brand's integration into the culture is set to be a driving force for internal cohesion. The third phase, an external brand launch, is set to make a substantial impact on the SEA market, aligning with the company's growth strategy and vision for the region.

We look forward to the continued growth of our people, clients and our business in the SEA region.

Stay tuned for more updates and let's continue to rise and thrive together!