Serving for 49 years, former machine operator Chui Tau Siong is now CEO
Published on
10 Dec 2022
Published by
The Straits Times
SINGAPORE – Mr Chui Tau Siong’s career trajectory is a modern-day fairy tale. He rose through the ranks over 49 years, getting his hands dirty on the factory floor and progressed on to oversee more than 1,500 people and manage multiple manufacturing plants across South-east Asia.
At 17, the former Malaysian came to Singapore looking for work. He got off the bus, saw an Insulpack Industries job listing on a pinboard outside a factory, walked in and got the job. That was how the O-level holder, who is now Singaporean, started out as a machine operator in 1973.
Three years later, Insulpack was acquired by Jebsen & Jessen, a diversified industrial conglomerate, and renamed Jebsen & Jessen Packaging. It now functions as the group’s packaging business unit, making protective packaging, engineered foam and moulding bottles and jars. It celebrates its 52nd anniversary this year.
During this time, Mr Chui’s career grew from production worker to office assistant, salesman, general manager and eventually chief executive in 1990. He has seen the company acquire competitors, set up new plants and expand its operations to Malaysia, Vietnam and Indonesia.
The 66-year-old says that when Insulpack’s ownership changed hands, he thought of jumping ship as he was worried about job security. But staying the course paid off. “Although I did not have clear career plans back then, one thing I knew was that I did not want to be a salesman forever – I wanted to go into management,” he reflects.
“In that regard, I was very blessed to have a great mentor, Mr Yong Fook Onn – the general manager then – to whom I could look to for advice and guidance on things such as company processes and management skills. Mr Yong had a similar educational background as me. He also started out in an entry-level role, and inspired me to achieve the same. He was a wonderful and patient superior who groomed me to fill his shoes and prepared me for the task of managing and growing the company.”
Looking back, Mr Chui is most thankful for the trust the company placed in him to make deals, explore partnerships and expand into the region. He says: “The major pro of staying was having opportunities to play increasingly active roles in business decision-making, watch the business grow, and learn from and share knowledge with my colleagues. I have no regrets.”
While he had different motivations at different stages of his career, the one constant was the “strong foundation of support” from the organisation, which he feels “set everyone up for success”. “The camaraderie of my team, colleagues, and a company that genuinely cared about its employees’ well-being were things I valued and kept me fulfilled.”
That said, he acknowledges that today’s job market and workers are a different beast. “Because of the different environments they grew up in, workers today have different priorities, both in their personal and professional lives. Younger generations have generally been accustomed to quicker ‘always-on’ lifestyles that promote faster gratification. It is only natural they want faster progress in their careers too.”
In that sense, he notes many young workers may be less willing to stick it out when “better” opportunities can be easily found elsewhere. Technological advances also provide an array of tools at everyone’s fingertips, making it easy to find new jobs and explore new opportunities.
Asked if he would stick to one employer if he were starting out today, he says: “My honest answer is that I am not sure, as there are so many factors to consider. For a young person, it can be tempting to move, especially when there is a bigger offer in terms of salary and the opportunity to move up the career ladder more quickly.
“It is difficult to imagine how a journey like mine would look like in today’s climate because everything is so different. All I can say is that if a company today has a culture like Jebsen & Jessen, I would do it all over again.”
Mr Chui is married to a housewife, and they have three daughters aged 29, 38 and 41, who are all lawyers. His advice to them and younger workers today is to do their due diligence to find out the culture of hiring companies, and the people they will be working with.
“Beyond the remuneration package, find out how the companies recognise and empower their employees, and whether there are opportunities for continued learning and development.
“Building a great company culture is an ongoing process that takes effort and dedication. For companies that do get it right, that is where you are likely to find growth and meaning.”
Source: The Straits Times © Singapore Press Holdings Limited. Reproduced with permission.
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