The Breakfast Grille

Making Native Contemporary

31 Dec 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Ugonna Hosten, founder of Ugo's Boutique, talks about her entrepreneurial journey from civil service to bag designer who seeks inspiration from Africa...

Protei, The Shape-Shifting, Oil Spill Cleaning, Sailing Robot.

28 Dec 2012

Contributed by Lukas

On the Breakfast Grille is Cesar Harada, environmentalist and the inventor of Protei. Protei is a shape-shifting sailing robot to clean up oil spils a...

ITA Picks Malaysia

27 Dec 2012

Contributed by Lukas

On the Breakfast Grille is Bob Pain, the Managing Director of Investors Trust Assurance, a Cayman Island-based international insurance company.He disc...

WWW vs Ted

26 Dec 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Richard Saul Wurman tells why his www conference is better than Ted, the conferences he founded in the 80s and which he sold the rights in 2002. ...

Globalization: The ABCs to a Global Social Revolution

24 Dec 2012

Contributed by Lukas

On the Breakfast Grille, Martin Marmolejo, founder of MMA Global Investment Management, discuss his new book Globalization: Opportunities & Implic...

Stirring up Syrup in a Hornet's Nest

21 Dec 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Monin Owner and President Olivier Monin discusses: - The business of gourmet flavours;  - Third generation - grandfather founded the firm -- deta...

Oh, Those Oleos: Sliding Up the Value Chain

20 Dec 2012

Contributed by Lukas

In this Dec 2012 interview, Emery Oleochemicals CEO Dr. Kongkrapan Intarajang, Ph.D, discusses: - Oleos generally;  - Benefits - located - No.2 g...

Trading to Making to Upstream: an Oil and Gas Journey

19 Dec 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Pantech Group Holdings Bhd ED Adrian Tan discusses:  - Starting life as a pipe trader - evolved into a manufacturer - what prompted the move up t...

O&M: Creativity & Effectiveness Go Hand In Hand

18 Dec 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Ogilvy & Mather is one of the largest advertising networks in the world, with more than 450 offices in over 170 cities. Anand Badami, Group Manag...

Tea-Off to a Great Start

14 Dec 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Taha Bouqdib, President and Co-founder of TWG TeaWithin four years, TWG Tea established 15 gourmet stores across the world, and is served in five star...

Into Thin Air: The Best Or Nothing

13 Dec 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Mercedes-Benz Services Malaysia Head, Hilke Jannsen, discusses:  - Mechanics of business - fundraising - costs - profit margins; - High-risk...

Handmade, Exclusive and Expensive, Bufori Finds Market Among Asia's Nouveau Riche

07 Dec 2012

Contributed by Lukas

In this Dec 2012 interview, Bufori Motor Car Company Managing Director Gerry Khouri discusses: - Update to business; - Production - R&D - market d...

Trailing the Chinese Wallet Worldwide

06 Dec 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Dorsett Hospitality International President and Executive Director Winnie Chiu discusses: - 3- to 4- Star Segment positioning; - ‘Chinese Wallet...

Lower-Return Regime "Primary Challenge" for Banks

04 Dec 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Moorad Choudhry, Treasurer at Corporate Banking Division at The Royal Bank of Scotland, discusses: - Lower-return regime - primary challenge facing ba...

Slower Growth Next Year

29 Nov 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Stanley Fischer, Governor of the Bank of Israel, the central bank, and former Deputy Managing Director of the IMF, discusses his growth outlook for US...

KKR finding deals in Southeast Asia

29 Nov 2012

Contributed by Lukas

KKR & Co, one of the largest private equity firms in the world, opens an office in Singapore. Ming Lu, the head of the Southeast Asian operations,...

Allez Indonesia! Breaking Cover to be Numero Uno

26 Nov 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Etiqa Insurance and Takaful Bhd CEO Hans De Cuyper discusses: - Insurance industry - perceptions - Insurance Agent - motivation - remuneration - revie...

Property Demand Buoyant as Focus Shift to Medium Segment

21 Nov 2012

Contributed by Lukas

In this 2012 interview, Glomac Bhd GMD/CEO Datuk FD Iskandar discusses: - Sentiment - said to be shifting to medium-end and into landed from high-rise...

Cure For Autism Not Far Away

20 Nov 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Dr Ami Klin, founder of Autism Science Foundation explains what causes autism and rules out that vaccination is a cause. See omnystudio.com/liste...

The Business of Making Movies in Malaysia

19 Nov 2012

Contributed by Lukas

David Teo, CEO of Metrowealth International Group. Arguably one of Malaysia’s top film producers, he’s made 82 movies, more than half of w...

Blessed with Beautiful Minds, Engineering 'Stable Outcomes'

14 Nov 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Alvin Roth, Co-Winner of the 2012 Nobel Economics Prize, discusses: - Early work of Co-Winner Lloyd Shapley;- Misallocation of scarce resources;- Shap...

Brazil Beckons as Seadrill Deal Bagged

12 Nov 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Sapurakencana Petroleum Bhd Executive Chairman Dato' Mokhzani Mahathir discusses: - Kencana - Sapura - merger - progress - systems / workforces; - Wis...

For this Niche Developer, Earnings Visibility Works

08 Nov 2012

Contributed by Lukas

In this 2012 interview, Magna Prima Berhad CEO Dato' Rahadian Mahmud discusses: - CEO promotion; - Broad update on the property sector; - The Istana i...

In Emerging Asia, Teething Pains in Leadership and Governance

07 Nov 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Iclif Leadership & Governance Centre CEO Rajeev Peshawaria discusses: - Impetus behind joining; - Financials - Opex - Staffing - KPIs; - Corporate...

Harsh and Hostile, the New Norm in Exploration

06 Nov 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Aker Solutions President for Subsea, Dave Hutchinson, discusses: - The Subsea business; - Investment in Malaysia - market share of subsea production t...

Malaysia-China Relations To See Continued Growth

05 Nov 2012

Contributed by Lukas

His Excellency Chai Xi, the Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Malaysia, discusses: -- his tenure here in Malaysia and the changes ...

McCafe Comes To Malaysia

02 Nov 2012

Contributed by Lukas

McDonald’s Singapore and Malaysia Regional Manager, Sarah Casanova, makes a comeback on the Breakfast Grille! She give us an update on the late...

Six Countries, Seven Offices. One P&L

01 Nov 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Publicis Malaysia CEO Dean Bramham discusses: - “costdiving”; - client challenges - play agencies off against each other - client manageme...

Bank on the Mend

31 Oct 2012

Contributed by Lukas

SME Bank, a merger of Bank Industri and part of Bank Pembangunan, and 100% owned by the Ministry of Finance, is cleaning up its balance sheet, improvi...

Pewtersmithing Perfection

30 Oct 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Chen Tien Yue, Executive Director and fourth generation of the founding family of the iconic Malaysian brand, Royal Selangor. He discusses: -- The h...

How Internet Search Will Evolve

29 Oct 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Ben Gomes, Vice President and Google Fellow at Google Inc., discusses:  - In years spent developing Search - the biggest challenges you face...

Columbia Asia: Small Is The New Big

25 Oct 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Kelvin Tan the CEO of Southeast Asia for the Columbia Asia Group discusses its unique business proposition, bringing fast and efficient service and va...

DKSH's Focus On Asia Pays Off

24 Oct 2012

Contributed by Lukas

John Clare Head of Country Management for market expansion service provider DKSH, discusses the Malaysian business: its operations, challenges within ...

The 2011 Audit Report: Hear It From The Man Himself

23 Oct 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Auditor General of Malaysia, Tan Sri Dato’ Setia Haji Ambrin Buang, discusses: --  why there was a delay in releasing the report -- &n...

From Russia with Love

22 Oct 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Russia has been emerging from the shackles of a Communist era to welcome foreign investors and trade partners. The market of 142 million people is irr...

British Designer Extraordinaire

19 Oct 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Thomas Heatherwick, the designer of the London Olympics cauldron, the Seed Cathedral for the UK pavilion in the World Expo Shanghai, and London's doub...

Aquaria KLCC Keeping It Fresh

18 Oct 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Dato' Simon Foong, the managing director and CEO of Aquaria KLCC, shares the story of how an oceanarium -- right in the heart of KL -- came to be.&nbs...

Ambitious targets for Al-Rajhi

17 Oct 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Al-Rajhi Bank has established 25 banks in Malaysia. Financing and advances is RM3.7 billion as at end-2011. Total assets is RM6.1 billion. But profits...

For LBI Capital, It's ALL About Timing

16 Oct 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Datuk Jeffrey Ng Chin Heng, Managing Director of LBI Capital Berhad, gives us an update on their current projects in Bandar Saujana Putra, Petali...

Autos and Aviation Drive this Carbon Maker

15 Oct 2012

Contributed by Lukas

K.H Lim, Managing Director, SGL Carbon Sdn. Bhd., discusses:  - How SGL - addressing global problems like energy efficiency, finding alternative ...

Fashion comes to Kuala Lumpur

12 Oct 2012

Contributed by Lukas

H&M, a Swedish brand and the world's second largest fast fashion retailer plays catch up with Zara and finally comes to Malaysia. Known for its af...

Wellcall Me Maybe!

11 Oct 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Alex Chew, the Executive Director of Main Board-listed industrial rubber hose manufacturer, Wellcall Holdings.  He explains Wellcall's business p...

Building An Innovative Nation From The Grassroots Up

10 Oct 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Dr Mazalan Kamis, the CEO of the Malaysian Innovation Foundation / Yayasan Inovasi Malaysia (YIM). He discusses how YIM plans to promote creativity a...

AirAsia Cargo Flies In The Face Conventional Freight Trends

09 Oct 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Sathis Manoharan, Regional Head for AirAsia & AirAsia X Cargo. He discusses how AirAsia Cargo got started, despite it being unconventional for a ...

Nippon Paint Adds The Finishing Touch

08 Oct 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Yaw Seng Heng, Managing Director for Nippon Paint Malaysia discusses the growth of the business in the decorative, industrial, and marine & protec...

Kimlun Well-Positioned For Iskandar Malaysia & IBS Projects

05 Oct 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Kimlun Corp Bhd CEO Sim Tian Liang on the Breakfast Grille.  He discusses its construction and manufacturing business and its strong orderbook of...

Design for Malaysia

04 Oct 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Malaysia is far behind countries like South Korea and Japan in terms of design. Dato Professor Dr Ahmad Rahim Zainuddin, the Chairman of the Malaysian...

Insights From the Man Helming Malaysia's Top Property Portal, iProperty

03 Oct 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Shaun Di Gregorio, CEO of the iProperty Group discusses iProperty's business proposition and why the model works here.  He shares with us some ke...

Sweet Growth

02 Oct 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Cocoaland Holdings is in the stage of an investment up-cycle. Planned capex is RM30 million, and annual capacity will be 4 million kg. According to Am...

Post Budget 2013: Budget For Malaysians?

01 Oct 2012

Contributed by Lukas

The post-Budget 2013 panel discussion on the Breakfast Grille with Melewar Industrial Group CEO, Azlan Abdullah and Deloitte Malaysia Country Tax Lead...

Budget 2013: Pre-Announcement Pow-Wow

28 Sep 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Dato' Ahmad Zaini OthmanPresident and CEOof the financier,Malaysia Building Society Bhd.,  andYvonne Tan,Equities Chief Investment Officer ofthe ...

MPI: Putting Malaysia on the Global Real Estate Investment Map

27 Sep 2012

Contributed by Lukas

On the Breakfast Grille, Kumar Tharmalingam, CEO of Malaysia Property Incorporated, discusses: -- MPI's mandate to drive investments in real estate in...

A Former Hedgie Spills the Beans

26 Sep 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Lars Kroijer, Author of Money Mavericks: Confessions of a Hedge Fund Manager former CEO of Holte Capital, discusses: - Beginning a hedge fund - d...

INSEAD Keeps Growing Despite Tough Economic Times

24 Sep 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Professor Peter Zemsky, the Deputy Dean of Degree Programmes and Curriculum at INSEAD, the international graduate business school. He discusses: -- If...

Riding the Asian M&A Wave

20 Sep 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Vikram Chakravarty, co-author of 'Asian Mergers & Acquisitions : Riding the Wave' discusses how deal activity is on the rise in Asia, while compar...

Bronze for Malaysia

19 Sep 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Pandelela Rinong Pamg, national diver, first Malaysian woman Olympics medalist, and K-pop lover, talks about her journey, and the sacrifices of a cham...

Asia's Economic Boom: Music to the Ears for this Audio Firm

18 Sep 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Blaupunkt Group CEO Dr Lars Placke discusses:  - Current status of Malaysia manufacturing hub - Penang - skills - tax breaks - ease of doing busi...

Share The Ummph

14 Sep 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Caroline Russell, CEO of Boh Plantations, tells how she is keeping the 80+ year old brand relevant in the face of more competition.See omnystudio.com/...

'Johnny Comes Lately' Approach Stands Former Journalist in Good Stead

13 Sep 2012

Contributed by Lukas

In this 2012 interview,  SEG International Founder/GMD Dato' Seri Clement Hii discusses:  - Transformation from Journalist to Businessman; -...

MDeC to Drive Malaysia's Digital Transformation

12 Sep 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Datuk Badlisham Ghazali, CEO of the Multimedia Development Corporation (MDeC): --  gives an update on MSC Malaysia, clusters and companies; ...

The Dutch Gateway to the European Market

11 Sep 2012

Contributed by Lukas

The Netherlands Foreign Investment Agency (NFIA) is an operational unit of the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs, Agriculture and Innovation. It assi...

Seven Years in Waiting, Finally: a Kicker

07 Sep 2012

Contributed by Lukas

i-Bhd CEO, Datuk Eu Hong Chew, discusses: - 2004 decision to exit appliances into property; - Positioning in 'digital cities'; - i-City development - ...

Advocacy At The Heart Of The Body Shop

06 Sep 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Datin Mina Cheah-Foong, founder of Rampai Niaga, the sole franchise holder for The Body Shop in Malaysia. She shares with us her story of how she star...

Within Healthcare Sector Profits, Management Challenges Abound

05 Sep 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Sunway Medical Centre CEO Lau Beng Long discusses: - Profit turnaround; - Drivers to the Malaysian healthcare sector; - Whether size and scale matter ...

4th Anniversary Special: The Breakfast Grille with BFM's Malek Ali

04 Sep 2012

Contributed by Lukas

BFM turns Four! And to celebrate our anniversary, David Chew, Khoo Hsu Chuang and Melisa Idris 'grille' the founder and managing director of BFM,...

Salving the Needs of Sick Asians and Profiting From It

03 Sep 2012

Contributed by Lukas

IHH Healthcare Berhad MD Dr. Lim Cheok Peng discusses: IPO: - Cornerstone investors - bought 58 per cent of your IPO - merits to their financial stabi...

Lego Joy in Johor

30 Aug 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Khazanah Nasional and Iskandar Investment provided the initial investment of RM720 million for Legoland to position Johor as an amusement park destina...

Merdeka Series:Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu

30 Aug 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Preeminent architect and urban planner Dato' Sri Lim Chong Keat, the youngest brother of Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu, recollects the former Penang Chief Minis...

Merdeka Series: Tan Sri Dr Tan Chee Khoon

30 Aug 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Lawyer, Tan Poh Lai, talks about her father Tan Sri Dr Tan Chee Khoon who despite growing up in abject poverty and not having the use of one eye becam...

Merdeka Series: Tun Sir HS Lee

30 Aug 2012

Contributed by Lukas

The country’s political landscape might have been different had Tun Sir HS Lee not persuaded MCA to join Umno in the Alliance Party coalition in...

Fashioning The Future

29 Aug 2012

Contributed by Lukas

FJ Benjamin is the brand owner of Raoul, and distributor of Gap, Guess, Celine, and a range of timepieces like Girard Perregaux and Bell & Ross, i...

Merdeka Series: Tun Abdul Razak

29 Aug 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Some of the most significant components that make Malaysia what it is today, was introduced during the tenure of the second prime minister.&...

Bringing Bond to Malaysia

28 Aug 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Aston Martin's Asia Pacific Regional Director Dr Matthew Bennett discusses:- Reasons for entry - Malaysia;- Whether late to the game; - JV with Berjay...

Enrollments in online education growing faster than traditional classes

24 Aug 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Richard Baraniuk, the Victor E. Cameron Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Rice University, and founder of Connexions talks about the...

The Quest to Make Sustainability a Way of Life

23 Aug 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Sustainability for New Britain Palm Oil Ltd (NBPOL) Group Director, Dr.Simon Lord discusses: - Reportedly poor uptake of sustainable palm oil - demand...

Making the Jump from a 'Factory Economy' to a 'Headquarter Economy'

21 Aug 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Prof Tham Siew Yean is a professor in international trade and a principal research fellow at the Institute of Malaysian and International Studies (IKM...

In Digital We Trust: the 'Paid'-'Owned'-'Earned' Phenomenon

17 Aug 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Group M CEO and Leader of Mindshare Malaysia, Girish Menon discusses:  - Overall health - Malaysia advertising spend; - Contrast with suppos...

'Betting on China' Through US Equity Markets

16 Aug 2012

Contributed by Lukas

American-born author and Beijing-based consultant Robert Koepp discusses his new book, 'Betting on China: Chinese Stocks, American Stock Mar...

Autodesk's Move Into the Customer Market

14 Aug 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Autodesk is an American multinational corporation that focuses on 3D design software for use in the architecture, engineering, construction, manufactu...

It's Full Steam Ahead for DHL Express

13 Aug 2012

Contributed by Lukas

David Ng, Managing Director Malaysia & Brunei, DHL Express. He discusses: --  the impressive QoQ growth registered by DHL Express -- &nb...

From UMNO and Govt Network, a Transport Charter Business Blossoms

10 Aug 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Gunung Capital Bhd Executive Chairman / CEO Dato' Syed Abu Hussin discusses: - Path - civil service - UMNO politics - into the transport charter busin...

Jotun Aims to Paint More of Malaysia

09 Aug 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Peder Bohlin, Managing Director of Jotun Malaysia and Regional Director of South East Asia. He discusses getting transferring the plant in S...

SAP Eyes SMEs; Moves Into Mobility & Cloud

08 Aug 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Kowshik Sriman, Managing Director for SAP Singapore & Malaysia discusses: --  SAP's flagship Enterprise Resource Planning solution ...

In Vicious Mid-Sector IT Segment, Innovation and Guile Needed

07 Aug 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Privasia Technology Bhd MD & Founder Puvanesan Subenthiran discusses: - Westports relationship - dependence - percentage contribution; - Orderbook...

New Challenges For Iskandar Malaysia As It Moves Into Its Second Phase

03 Aug 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Ismail Ibrahim, Chief Executive of  Iskandar Regional Development Authority, discusses: --  update on Iskandar Malaysia as it is now in...

In MAA Digestion Mode, More Growth Pockets Seen in SMEs, Bancassurance

02 Aug 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Zurich Insurance Malaysia Berhad CEO Cheong Chee Meng discusses: - MAA - life and general insurance acquisition - integration process; - Price - barga...

After Sorting Malaysia, Now For The Big One: Australia

01 Aug 2012

Contributed by Lukas

In this 2012 interview, Daibochi Plastic and Packaging Industry Bhd MD Thomas Lim discusses: - Food packaging segment: new clients - sales orders - R&...

Federal Furniture Focuses on the Kitchen as the Heart of the Home

31 Jul 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Federal Furniture Holdings Group Managing Director and Executive Director, Choy Wai Hin, discusses: --  Federal Furniture Holdings' main business...

FireFly Aims for Greater Heights

30 Jul 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Ignatius Ong, CEO of FireFly, discusses: --  FireFly's ceased jet services and its sole focus on turboprop operations --  Why MAS took over...

In Indochina We Trust: Vietnam Partnership Yields Energy Income

27 Jul 2012

Contributed by Lukas

In this 2012 interview, Yinson Holdings Bhd ED Lim Chern Yuan discusses: - Relative newcomer - market positioning; - Business seems good - strong Q1 n...

Winnie Loo: Passion Keeps Her A Cut Above the Rest

27 Jul 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Winnie Loo, the founder and chief creative director of 'A Cut Above' group of salons & academy She discusses: -- Her humble beginnings, starting o...

In 2012, a Concerted Push to Cover the Undercovered Bumi Sector

25 Jul 2012

Contributed by Lukas

In this 2012 interview, Charlie Oropeza, CEO of Prudential Assurance Malaysia Bhd, discusses: - Branches - employees - agents - Wealth Planners - upda...

How is MRT Corp Managing Malaysia's Largest Infrastructure Project?

23 Jul 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Datuk Azhar Abdul Hamid, CEO of MRT Corp discusses: -- the estimated cost of the MRT project -- an update on the current progress of construction work...

Tariq Ramadan and The Arab Awakening

20 Jul 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Tariq Ramadan, Professor of Contemporary Islamic Studies at the Oxford University and the author of The Arab Awakening: Islam and the New Middle East....

Chery to World: "Here for the Long Term"

19 Jul 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Chery Automobile Malaysia CEO Paul Ng discusses: - Auto industry as a ‘strategic industry’ - - local partner - (BSA MAlaysia's) Tan Sri Ca...

Minting Money from Disposable Fashion

17 Jul 2012

Contributed by Lukas

In this 2012 interview, Padini Holdings Bhd Executive Director Chan Kwai Heng discusses: - Padini - vision statement .. "to be the best fashion compan...

Scooting Up

16 Jul 2012

Contributed by Lukas

How will Scoot, the new low cost, medium/long haul carrier backed by Singapore Airlines give AirAsia X and Jetstar a run for their money? Interview wi...

In Smartphones, A Quietly Brlliant Approach

13 Jul 2012

Contributed by Lukas

HTC Corporation President of South Asia Pacific Lennard Hoornik discusses: - Expectations - achievements since leaving Sony Ericsson; - Applying turna...

Leo Burnett Malaysia Banks on Its People

12 Jul 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Tan Kien Eng, CEO of Leo Burnett Group Malaysia & Singapore discusses: -- the HumanKind philosophy at the heart of Leo Burnett Group -- its numero...

The Battle for the Bulging Asian Healthcare Wallet

11 Jul 2012

Contributed by Lukas

Fortis Healthcare CEO Vishal Bali discusses: - India - conducive elements for health care; - Indian plans to become regional medical destination - cha...