TEFD: What are your expectations for 2012, for your company and your industry? What impact, if any, do you expect from the euro crisis?
Ireland: After a decade of growth, we expect Guinness Anchor Bhd’s (GAB) growth rate to be broadly maintained in 2012. As for the industry, it is possible that the industry may slow a little as consumers become more careful with discretionary spending amid a softening economy and an uncertain outlook.
Will Bank Negara Malaysia’s recent tightening of consumer borrowing have an impact?
We do not expect it to have an impact on our business as our spending comes from disposable income. We might even see a little uptick as consumers buy less big ticket items like televisions and cars, but spend a little more on small everyday purchases. We saw a similar shift in the last global financial crisis.
What are the company’s plans and focus for 2012?
We will have a broadly similar strategy as it has been working well for us. Moving ahead, we will look to further sharpen our focus to concentrate on the most impactful activities and to stop doing the less impactful ones.
Also, in more buoyant times, we tend to experiment a little more, but in this current economic market we will probably experiment less next year to de-risk our plan. We will also be especially vigilant on our financial management to ensure that we are able to maintain our performance in the hope that we will achieve another year of growth.
What is your personal wish list for 2012?
First, that GAB delivers an 11th successive year of growth. Second, that the eurozone crisis gets sorted out and the global economy avoids a deep recession. Third, that Chelsea wins the Champions League. Finally, that my golf game recovers and I get back down to a 14 handicap!
The 2012 CEO Outlook series started on Dec 19 and will run every day into January. The Edge Financial Daily has so far interviewed Geoffrey Briscoe of BMW Malaysia, Tan Sri Teh Hong Piow of Public Bank Bhd, Jeffrey Chew of OCBC Bank (M) Bhd, Osman Morad of Standard Chartered Bank Malaysia Bhd, Yvonne Chia of Hong Leong Bank Bhd, Tan Sri Lee Oi Hian of Kuala Lumpur-Kepong Bhd, among many others. If you’ve missed them, please read our back issues on iPad for free
Ireland: After a decade of growth, we expect Guinness Anchor Bhd’s (GAB) growth rate to be broadly maintained in 2012. As for the industry, it is possible that the industry may slow a little as consumers become more careful with discretionary spending amid a softening economy and an uncertain outlook.
Will Bank Negara Malaysia’s recent tightening of consumer borrowing have an impact?
We do not expect it to have an impact on our business as our spending comes from disposable income. We might even see a little uptick as consumers buy less big ticket items like televisions and cars, but spend a little more on small everyday purchases. We saw a similar shift in the last global financial crisis.
We will look to further sharpen our focus to concentrate on the most impactful activities and to stop doing the less impactful ones.
What are the company’s plans and focus for 2012?
We will have a broadly similar strategy as it has been working well for us. Moving ahead, we will look to further sharpen our focus to concentrate on the most impactful activities and to stop doing the less impactful ones.
Also, in more buoyant times, we tend to experiment a little more, but in this current economic market we will probably experiment less next year to de-risk our plan. We will also be especially vigilant on our financial management to ensure that we are able to maintain our performance in the hope that we will achieve another year of growth.
What is your personal wish list for 2012?
First, that GAB delivers an 11th successive year of growth. Second, that the eurozone crisis gets sorted out and the global economy avoids a deep recession. Third, that Chelsea wins the Champions League. Finally, that my golf game recovers and I get back down to a 14 handicap!
The 2012 CEO Outlook series started on Dec 19 and will run every day into January. The Edge Financial Daily has so far interviewed Geoffrey Briscoe of BMW Malaysia, Tan Sri Teh Hong Piow of Public Bank Bhd, Jeffrey Chew of OCBC Bank (M) Bhd, Osman Morad of Standard Chartered Bank Malaysia Bhd, Yvonne Chia of Hong Leong Bank Bhd, Tan Sri Lee Oi Hian of Kuala Lumpur-Kepong Bhd, among many others. If you’ve missed them, please read our back issues on iPad for free
