| | APRIL 20248IN FOCUSSAP NAMES VIPIN CHANDRAN MANAGING DIRECTOR FOR MALAYSIAVINFAST ACCELERATES THAI EXPANSION WITH 15 PARTNERSHIPSSAP, a global leader in enterprise software, has recently announced the appointment of Vipin Chandran as the managing director of SAP Malaysia. With an extensive career spanning over 25 years, Vipin brings a wealth of experience in business leadership, team building, and cloud transformations to his new role.In his capacity as managing director, Vipin will spearhead efforts to bolster the digital transformation capabilities of organizations within Malaysia. His focus will be on accelerating growth in the burgeoning AI economy while prioritizing the development of resilient and agile supply chains for businesses. Moreover, he aims to contribute to the creation of a more sustainable future through strategic initiatives.Vipin expressed enthusiasm about his new role, highlighting Malaysia's robust digital economy, which accounted for over 23 percent of the country's GDP in the preceding year. He underscored the government's commitment to fostering this sector, as evident from recent budget allocations. Vipin looks forward to collaborating closely with both public and private sector entities to navigate the evolving landscape of digital transformation in Malaysia.Having joined SAP in 2008, Vipin previously served as the chief partner officer for SAP Southeast Asia, where he played a pivotal role in enabling the success of more than 500 partner organizations. His diverse background includes leadership positions in sales, services, and partner management across various regions, providing him with a comprehensive understanding of SAP's ecosystem and customer needs.Verena Siow, president and managing director of SAP Southeast Asia, expressed excitement about Vipin's appointment, emphasizing his role as a catalyst for driving customer and partner success in Malaysia. Siow highlighted Vipin's mandate to leverage the transformative potential of cloud computing and Business AI, thereby propelling businesses towards a sustainable, intelligent, and interconnected future. VinFast, the Vietnamese electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer, has announced a significant stride in its expansion efforts, securing partnership agreements with 15 dealers in Thailand. This move signifies VinFast's strategic push into Southeast Asia, tapping into the burgeoning demand for EVs within the region. The agreements were formalized during the Bangkok International Motor Show, underscoring VinFast's commitment to establishing a foothold in the Thai market.Thailand, with its ambitious goal of transitioning 30 percent of its annual vehicle production to EVs by 2030, has become a focal point for EV manufacturers vying for market share. VinFast's entry coincides with robust sales from Chinese EV brands like BYD and Great Wall Motor, while discussions with Tesla regarding potential production facilities add further competition.VinFast's partnership strategy entails setting up 22 showrooms strategically located across the Greater Bangkok Area, aligning with its expansion blueprint in Thailand. This move aims to capitalize on the evolving consumer preferences and the growing EV market in the country.In 2023, Thai consumers purchased 73,500 battery EVs, constituting around 9 percent of domestic car sales. Forecasts from the Federation of Thai Industries suggest a doubling of this figure by the end of 2024, indicating a promising trajectory for EV adoption in the nation. VinFast, which commenced EV production in 2021 and recently went public on Nasdaq, aims to extend its footprint to 50 countries. Bolstered by its 2023 sales of nearly 35,000 cars, VinFast remains poised to capitalize on the evolving automotive landscape, both in Thailand and beyond.
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