Hi, I’m
Peter Xiao
Human Resources Director
Singapore
Summary
With over 20 years of HR experience across various industries including Green Energy/Infrastructure, Chemical/Oil & Gas, IT/Electronics, and Pharmaceutical/Medical Device. Skilled in organization design, analytical abilities, and driving productivity and efficiency improvement projects. Experienced working in China, Hong Kong, France, and Singapore with 12 years of APAC experience and 3 years as a Global HR Business Partner covering US, Europe, and Asia. Knowledgeable in talent development, M&A, and change management. Former Quality Manager and Marketing Director at Ericsson, collaborating with leaders from diverse backgrounds to drive strategic HR initiatives and optimize workforce efficiency. Expertise in fostering collaboration, achieving tangible results, and adapting to changing organizational needs while focusing on employee engagement and building strong team dynamics.
Overview
27
years of professional experience
4
years of post-secondary education
4
Languages
Work History
Brenntag Essentials
Senior Director HR APAC
06.2024 - Current
Job overview
- Company Overview: World biggest Chemical Distribution Company
- Leading several HR business partners, CoEs and HR operations team across APAC countries.
- Lead and drive the disentanglement (split) of Brenntag Essential and Specialties Business, involving legal entity change, people transfer, business transfer, and supply chain setup.
- Post-Merger Integration with acquired company Aik Moh in Singapore/Malaysia/Indonesia/Philippine.
- Implement Recruitment Module of workday (migrate from Cornerstone to Workday).
- Driving the Brenntag Essentials Academy and joined the design and rollout of GM training program.
- Joined in the HR due diligence in selling Raj to Shell in India.
- World biggest Chemical Distribution Company
- Reporting to SVP Brenntag Essentials and APAC Regional President.
- Reasons for Change: HR function is now moving from Business (BU) to Corporate and two BU HR team in APAC will be combined into one.
Avery Dennison
HR Director/Business Partner
01.2023 - 05.2024
Job overview
- Company Overview: A NASDAQ Listed Fortune 500 Company with HQ in Ohio USA
- Leading HR Digital Transformation and won the best employer and digital transformation award from HR Asia.
- Restructured Business due to global supply chain derisking and reduced workforce of 1000 FTE in one year, part of global span and control project. No legal case/disputes.
- Implemented Cross Asia Senior Executive Development Program in collaboration with CEIBS and Emerging Leaders Learning Programs.
- DE&I Initiatives in Asia, female managers and above reach 54% in 2023.
- A NASDAQ Listed Fortune 500 Company with HQ in Ohio USA
- Reporting to Global VP of HR Apparel of Solution Group.
- Reasons of Leaving: to relocate back to Singapore to support Children University Entry Exam (A Level).
Nexans
HR Business Partner
09.2019 - 12.2022
Job overview
- Company Overview: Nexans (originated from Alcatel) is a 6 billion Euro French company with 27,000 employees worldwide.
- Supported the BU to overachieve three consecutive years of EBITDA and Cash Targets. Transformed business from volume driver to value driver.
- Worked with McKinsey to analyze organization size, benchmarking internally and externally to achieve fixed cost reduction and productivity improvement.
- Supported Korean HR Director for Annual Wages negotiation with Labor Unions in South Korea (3 Plants).
- Key member to drive the 'Carve out' Nexans Industrial (ISP) Business, rebranded as Lynxeo and sold to Latour Capital for 525 million euros.
- Nexans (originated from Alcatel) is a 6 billion Euro French company with 27,000 employees worldwide.
- Reasons of Leaving: Was asked to be relocated to Paris was not able to move and prefer to stay in Asia.
Motul
HR Head Asia
01.2018 - 08.2019
Job overview
- Company Overview: Motul is a 165 years old French company making automotive and industrial lubricants with manufacturing sites in Vietnam and France and sales offices around the world.
- As HR Director Asia, reporting to CEO Asia (One of the Owners of Company), in charge of the full spectrum of HR for Japan, China, Korean, Taiwan, Hong Kong, India, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, Myanmar, Cambodia, Indonesia, Philippine, Australia and New Zealand.
- Managed the Asia organizational changes, replacing China GM, Hired CIO, GM Japan and China GM Automotive etc., rolled out a new Matrix Organization effective 1st of July 2018.
- Improved Recruitment Process and introduced Competence Based Recruitment Interview Skills and has hired more 80 people in 2 quarters together with the country staffing team.
- Localized Corporate Values and built Employer Branding through Employer Brand Marketing Programs.
- Motul is a 165 years old French company making automotive and industrial lubricants with manufacturing sites in Vietnam and France and sales offices around the world.
- Reasons of leaving: Headhunted to join Nexans for a Global BU Head role with global exposure based in Shanghai, Singapore and commuting to Paris (2021-2022).
Prysmian Group
HR Director ASEAN
06.2012 - 12.2017
Job overview
- Company Overview: Prysmian (Pirelli Cable) is world #1 Cable Company with ~30,000 employees and 11 billion Euro Revenue and 112 factories worldwide (year 2017)
- As HR Director ASEAN, reporting to Global HR VP (Italian) and CEO ASEAN (Singaporean), in charge of the full spectrum of HR and industrial relations for 6 factories and 2 distribution centers in Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Indonesia and the Philippines.
- Handled labor arbitration case (TAFEP), workers’ injury cases and employee corruption investigations in Singapore.
- Annual Wages and Bonus Negotiation for Indonesia, Thailand and Collective Labor Agreement negotiation in Malaysia bi-annually.
- Designed and launched the company customized APAC Leadership Development Programs with Singapore Management University (SMU), Fudan University and Bocconi University.
- Redesigned the regional organization from country to business units. New organization structure rollout: move to one office location, compensation and benefit alignment, and reduce legal entities from 8 to 1 in Singapore.
- Recruited Management Trainee Program from local universities within ASEAN region.
- Negotiated and reached Collective labor contracts in Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia.
- Prysmian (Pirelli Cable) is world #1 Cable Company with ~30,000 employees and 11 billion Euro Revenue and 112 factories worldwide (year 2017)
- Reasons of leaving: Headhunted to join Motul for an Asia role covering Japan, Korea, Vietnam, India and China.
Elekta
Director of HR Asia Pacific
08.2010 - 06.2012
Job overview
- HR Scope covers Japan, Korea, India, China, ANZ and Far East.
- Aug 2010 to May 2011, China HR Director based in Beijing.
- May 2011 to June 2012, Asia Pacific HR Director based in Hong Kong.
- Reasons of Leaving: Had problem in enrolling children to international school in Hong Kong and re-joined Prysmian in Singapore.
Prysmian Group China
HR Director
06.2007 - 07.2010
Job overview
- Based in Beijing, in charge of 4 factories and 6 legal entities. Full Time Employee +1000.
- Reasons of leaving: Explore international career outside China.
Ericsson Greater China
Various Roles
01.1998 - 06.2007
Job overview
- Jan 98 - Sep 00: Wuhan Ericsson Telecommunication Co., Ltd, based in Wuhan, as Operation Development/Quality Manager, Achieved BSI 9001 Certification and transferred the production process from Italy to China.
- Sep 00 - June 02: Beijing Ericsson Communication Systems Co., Ltd, Based in Beijing. Operation Development/Quality Manager transformed the company from a 500 people manufacturing company to a sales and marketing organization. Led the process re-engineering project.
- June 02 – April 2006: Ericsson Enterprise China. Position: HR Director, based in Beijing, implemented HR shared service organization; as one of the key members of the management team, turned business back to profit.
- April 06 - June 07: Ericsson China National Account Enterprise and Industrial Segment (EIS), Marketing and Business Development Director, based in Beijing, developed Government accounts of Shenyang and Wei Fang of Shandong Province. Actively promoted the BU products in China.
- Reasons of Leaving: Seeking a Head of HR Greater China role for career progress.
Education
Wharton
Wharton CHRO Program
01.2023 - 01.2024
Bocconi University
Master of Strategic HR Management
01.2010 - 01.2011
University Overview
Graduated Sponsored by Prysmian Group
University of Queensland
MBA
01.2000 - 01.2002
University Overview
Graduated Sponsored by Ericsson
Skills
Collaborative leadership
Training
- International Coaching Program, Singapore Management University, 2018
- Strategic Human Resource Management Program, National University of Singapore (NUS), 2009
- Strategic Human Resource Management Program, National University of Singapore (NUS), 2018
- 6 Sigma Green Belt Training, 2004, China
Timeline
Senior Director HR APAC
Brenntag Essentials
06.2024 - Current
HR Director/Business Partner
Avery Dennison
01.2023 - 05.2024
Wharton
Wharton CHRO Program
01.2023 - 01.2024
HR Business Partner
Nexans
09.2019 - 12.2022
HR Head Asia
Motul
01.2018 - 08.2019
HR Director ASEAN
Prysmian Group
06.2012 - 12.2017
Director of HR Asia Pacific
Elekta
08.2010 - 06.2012
Bocconi University
Master of Strategic HR Management
01.2010 - 01.2011
HR Director
Prysmian Group China
06.2007 - 07.2010
University of Queensland
MBA
01.2000 - 01.2002
Various Roles
Ericsson Greater China
01.1998 - 06.2007
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