Catherine Thai
Minhang
Summary
Results-driven operations professional with proven track record in optimizing business processes, enhancing productivity, and leading high-performing teams. Adept at strategic planning, resource management, and driving operational efficiency in dynamic environments. Strong focus on collaboration and adaptability, leveraging leadership skills to align teams with organizational goals and deliver tangible outcomes. Known for reliability, decisive problem-solving, and fostering culture of continuous improvement.
Overview
33
33
years of professional experience
8
8
years of post-secondary education
2
2
Languages
Work History
Chief Operating Officer
Shanghai YuLing Enterprise Ltd
09.2024 - Current
- As part of the investor, oversees the company’s operations and product expansion across China and international markets.
Secretary General
Singapore Chamber of Commerce Shanghai
09.2024 - Current
- Holding key role in the chamber’s executive team, manage membership functions, including recruitment, engagement, and retention to maintain an active member base
- Build and sustain relationships with corporate members, addressing their needs and enhancing their involvement
- Develop and manage relations with government bodies to advocate for members and ensure compliance
- Provide strategic leadership, coordinating activities to align with organizational goals and supporting the board and executive team in executing initiatives and fostering partnerships and sponsorship.
Executive Director
Singapore Chamber of Commerce Shanghai
06.2022 - 08.2024
- A strategic partner of the Chairperson & EXCO to achieve the objective of SingCham Shanghai
- Role encompasses external relationship management with government bodies and other relevant organisations, member relations management, daily operational management of SingCham Shanghai (including financial management and reporting), and events management
- Objective is to gain cognisance from members and the community on the value-addition of SingCham, help to promote business collaboration, thought leadership, people development and social interactions
- External relationships management - Play a key role in relationship management with various stakeholders including government bodies, other chambers, and business groups as well as promote the public image of SingCham proactively
- Member relationship management - Expand the membership base through active engagement with the community and curate programs/events for business and social interactions, including ensuring relevant membership value propositions
- Chamber Development – In charge of the Secretariat office, taking responsibility for the smooth running of the office, including compliance with the Charter, regulations, and laws of the country
- Oversee the conduct of the annual general meetings, EXCO meetings, and coordination work with the other SingCham chapters
- Financial Management - Ensure prudential management of finances, provide timely and accurate reporting of financial results, regularly reporting and analysis of budget and forecast.
Chief Operating / Financial Officer
Magikats
01.2013 - 01.2016
- Manage the overall operation and accounts of the company
- Bi-monthly meeting with Franchisor on knowhow transfer, operation and business strategies
- Work with vendors on marketing and promotional program
- Achievement - Breakeven capital within 2years of operation
Regional Marketing and Sales Director (SEA)
ABB
07.2010 - 07.2013
- South East Asia – BU Electric Motors and Generators (managing a region team of 22 pax and local sales team of 120pax with an annual business budget of 110MUSD)
- Achievement
- Assessed market needs on new acquired products, its potential to the desire market, its competition behaviour and implement growth planning actions like region assembly line, region stocking etc
- Outlined clear business development plan for new products into region, including market research, product launch, detailed business plan etc
- Successfully open up new market in various countries on new business venture - ie Indonesia, restructured the team with new local business unit manager, business grew 2 folds within 2years
- Pricing Policy – Successfully implement different pricing policy within ABB organization and cross divisions
- Pricing Policy – Successfully implement different pricing structure within individual country market needs ie
- Vietnam, assess market situation, demand and implement different pricing structure to cater to different market channels
- Integration of new acquired company into own business units
- Job Scope Marketing:-
- Product mapping analysis
- Work with global product group (PGs) to assess needs and evaluate market demands
- Work with global team in various segments – Oil & Gas, water, marine etc – to develop white spot analysis and business strategies for the region
- Outline clear business development plan for new product launching into region, including market research, product launch, detailed business plan etc
- Work closely with global KAM (Key account) team to synchronise strategies to customers
- Monthly analysis report on financial and development of each responsible country
- Keep abreast of the market situation and provide strategic remedies to support the continual growth of the business to the responsible region
- Analysis market competition and work with Market intelligence leaders for proactive actions to market Pricing Policy
- Work closely with global M&S and tailor pricing agreement with working region
- Ensure good controls on global price management
- Analyse pricing policy requirement and evaluate market pricing level through competition/market analysis Channel Management
- Keep abreast of market needs and potential, studies the channel to market strategies and implement to individual market
- Training
- Access training needs and tailor training program to enhance sales and support staff capability and competency
- Value Base Selling and Account Management training to Sales Sales - Provide sales support to local Sales Unit with the assistance of region sales/sales support/product/application engineering/key account management team, and assisting the local sales in formulating winning formulas to the market
- Joint customers visit with local sales unit to better understand the market needs and situation
- Support and follow-up with the Sales Units and Channel partners in budgeting, target settings and marketing plans
- Handle complaints and evaluate resolution in order to ensure customers’ satisfaction
- Provide mentoring support to sales and proposal team
- Analyse internal operation, simplify processes and improve efficiency within team, thereby ensuring productivity above targeted level BU Machines, Global Marketing and Salest Team - Location - Singapore
Regional Marketing and Sales Manager/Director -SEA
ABB
01.2009 - 06.2010
- Achievement
- Outlined clear business development plan for new product - LV generators - into SEA region, including market research, product launch, detailed business plan etc
- Training – Value Base Selling and Account Management training to Sales
- Job Scope
- Development of new product business into market
- Involvement in training development plan for value base selling (customer centric) and account management to sales force
- Work with global core teams for Key OEMs, water, Oil & Gas and marine segment to develop white spot analysis and business strategies for the region BU LV Motors – Global Marketing and Sales Team – location – Shanghai (2.5years)/Singapore
Regional Marketing and Sales manager/Director
09.2006 - 12.2008
- HongKong, Korea, Japan, Taiwan)
- Achievement
- Successfully open up new market in Japan for small motors
- Implement a step-by-step project to product business transfer plan in Korea
- Involvement of HongKong on the foreign currency activities in China
- Follow-up involvement with few key IOEMs activities in China
- Achieved best regional Order Received growth of 35% between 2006 to 2007 with a strong continuation of 60% growth over same period last year
- Regional OR budget of 125MUSD
- Job Scope
- Develop global business of Business Unit LV motors with the close coordination between Global Product Groups(GPGs) and Production Units (PUs) to the market
- Implement marketing and sales strategies and pricing policies defined by BU and GPGs
- Work hand in hand with global IOEMs GKAM to synchronize strategies to the market
- Ensure good controls on global price management
- Monthly analysis report on financial and development of each responsible country
- Support and follow-up with the Sales Units (SUs) in budgeting, target settings and marketing plans
- Keep abreast of the market situation and provide strategic remedies to support the continual growth of the business to the responsible region
- Visit customers together with Local Sales Unit to better understand the market needs and situation
- Provide training and competence development to SUs
Regional Sales and Marketing Manager
ABB
09.2006 - 12.2007
- Import motors and IOEMs Product, (Concurrent function)
- Achievement
- Obtained official license to trade import motors in China
- Successfully transferred and redirect business from Europe to China for import motors
- Successfully transferred clientele activities in Europe to China for key customers – Alfa Laval, Flaktwood, Huntsman, Knorr
- Develop local competency to handle import motors
- Job Scope
- Promote import motors to China market
- Provide training and competence development to China SU on import motors
- Provide sales support to SU, assisting them in negotiations with customers
- Work hand in hand with global IOEMs and cross-border OEMs and its GKAM to synchronize strategies to China
- Consolidate periodic IOEMs activities and figures in China
Regional Sales Manager
Asia Pacific Region
04.2005 - 08.2006
- New Zealand, excluding China)
- Job Scope
- Factory interface to local sales organization by providing support and service to local sales on:-
- Day-to-day business support, technical and commercial
- Joint customer visit
- Transfer price level internal quotations
- Technical support in defining technical specifications
- Product and tools training and updates
- Sales and marketing action planning and follow-up
- Exhibition and sales seminar planning and implementation
- Create competitive strategies with local sales units
- Prepare and update transfer price multiplier tables/price lists
- Create sound and cost effective co-operation between the local sales units; cross-border resource utilisation
- Co-ordinate bidding process in cross-border projects
- Competitors’ follow-up
- Market price development follow-up
- Keep Regional Core Team & factories updated about competitors and market changes
- Create synergy with local sales units to meet budget transfer price level budget
Product Manager
ABB Industry Pte Ltd
02.2001 - 04.2005
Senior Sales Engineer
03.1999 - 01.2001
Sales Engineer
Sulzer Pumps
06.1996 - 02.1999
- Global Key Account Management Team Member for
- Hamworthy
Project Engineer
Schneider Singapore
04.1994 - 06.1996
Electrical Designer
08.1992 - 03.1994
- Developed and standardized starter selection guide and design, thereby substantially shorten the design time and selection time of a starter panel
- Determined and developed standard calculation software to calculate short-circuitry in a ship building system
- Job Scope
- Carried out project management, coordination, planning and control to ensure smooth project execution
- Designed and engineered electrical control systems such as switchboards (main/emergency), distribution panels, MCC, starters, control room system etc
- Undertook technical support to the sales team in the analysis and review of project specification
- Increased customer orientation by intensifying liaison activities with customers
- Analysed, facilitated product development and quality with marketing department
- Supported post-sales activities to customers such as resolving technical and quality non-compliance
- Performed troubleshooting on unexpected failures in system design
Education
Bachelor - Business and Business Administration, marketing
Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology
07.1997 - 08.1999
Graduate Diploma - Financial Management
Singapore Institute of Management
07.2000 - 06.2001
Diploma - Management Studies
Singapore Institute of Management
10.1994 - 10.1996
Diploma - Electrical Engineering
Ngee Ann Polytechnic
06.1989 - 08.1992
Skills
Operations management
Marketing expertise
Performance analysis
Franchise compliance
Small business operations
Customer relations
Sales leadership
Relationship building
Strategic planning
Additional Information
Date of Birth : 23-06-1972
Marital Status : Married
Address : Westwood Green West 500 Xingle Road, Villa unit 132, Minhang, HuaCao, Shanghai 201107, China
Timeline
Chief Operating Officer
Shanghai YuLing Enterprise Ltd
09.2024 - Current
Secretary General
Singapore Chamber of Commerce Shanghai
09.2024 - Current
Executive Director
Singapore Chamber of Commerce Shanghai
06.2022 - 08.2024
Chief Operating / Financial Officer
Magikats
01.2013 - 01.2016
Regional Marketing and Sales Director (SEA)
ABB
07.2010 - 07.2013
Regional Marketing and Sales Manager/Director -SEA
ABB
01.2009 - 06.2010
Regional Marketing and Sales manager/Director
09.2006 - 12.2008
Regional Sales and Marketing Manager
ABB
09.2006 - 12.2007
Regional Sales Manager
Asia Pacific Region
04.2005 - 08.2006
Product Manager
ABB Industry Pte Ltd
02.2001 - 04.2005
Graduate Diploma - Financial Management
Singapore Institute of Management
07.2000 - 06.2001
Senior Sales Engineer
03.1999 - 01.2001
Bachelor - Business and Business Administration, marketing
Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology
07.1997 - 08.1999
Sales Engineer
Sulzer Pumps
06.1996 - 02.1999
Diploma - Management Studies
Singapore Institute of Management
10.1994 - 10.1996
Project Engineer
Schneider Singapore
04.1994 - 06.1996
Electrical Designer
08.1992 - 03.1994
Diploma - Electrical Engineering
Ngee Ann Polytechnic
06.1989 - 08.1992