From Zero to Hero

BIOGRAPHY

Name: Robert Kuok Hock Nien
Born: 6th October 1923 (91 years old)
Origin: Johor Bahru, Malaysia
Net worth: 11.5 billion (Forbes.com)

Mr. Robert Kuok is a Malaysian Hockchiu entrepreneur. He is the richest man in Malaysia with 11.5 billion net worth. He made his money in sugar, palm oil, shipping, and property.

Born in Johor Bahru, Johor, Robert is the youngest out of three siblings. He graduated from Raffles Institution, Singapore. Back to 1942-1945, he worked in a Japanese Industrial conglomerate, in grains department of Mitsubishi. After his father died in 1948, Robert Kuok and his two brothers founded Kuok Brothers Sdn Bhd in 1949, trading in agricultural commodities. Since then, he never looks back and starts to earn, until now, making him 95th richest in the world. Below are some of the histories of him in business.

But, by just reading up and researching a bit more about this iconic entrepreneur in Asia, it is clear, at least in my point of view, that he invests in industries whom we, as human beings need to survive;

1. Source of Energy/ Food for People (Including sugarcane plantations, sugar refineries, oil)
2. Information (He controls the media with a strong presence in China and he owns a range of publishing companies)
3. Communications/ Transportation (He owns freight companies that help us stay connected in this world of trading)
4. A Roof over our Heads (He owns the luxurious Shangri-La Group and property developments, all tied towards providing us with comforts over our heads)


BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT

1949 – Founded Kuok Brothers Limited
1953 – Kuok (Singapore) Limited
1970 – The Kuok Foundation
1971 – First Shangri-La Hotel, Singapore
1979 – Formed Kuok Hotels, to manage the Rasa Sayang Resort and Spa, Golden Sands Resort in Penang, and The Fijian, Yanuca Island, on Fiji.
1981 – Second Shangri-La Hotel, Kowloon, managed by Westin Hotels & Resorts
1982 – Formed Shangri-La International Hotel Management Ltd
1991 – Kuok Group’s merged with Wilmar International Limited
1991 – Formed Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts, assumed management of the Kowloon from Westin, as well as all hotels it had owned until that point
1993 – Robert Kuok's Kerry Group acquired a 34.9% stake in the South China Morning Post (SCMP) Group
2012 – Received China Economic Person of The Year award
2014 – 113 hotels and resorts which the brand of Shangri-La, Kerry and Traders.

“He is very wise, ambitious and not much talking. He is absolutely someone that is easy to talk to. If we don't agree to his opinion, we definitely will respect his behaviors.” – Tan Sri Ramon Navaratnam


CHARACTERISTICS OF ROBERT KUOK

1. BRAVE
Brave to explore any field of business. He is the first entrepreneur to invest in China hotel’s development. In return, he built one of the largest hotel’s empires in Asia.

2. WORK HARD
During “Never use easy way to success”

3. GOOD ENGLISH COMMAND
During his interview with CCTV “Dialogue”, he claimed that he able to success is because he able to communication well in English. Back to 50s, hardly to find a young Chinese man in London, who able to talk well in English.

4. GOOD WELL-FARE TO EMPLOYEES

5. RISK TAKER


INVOLVEMENT IN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

During the CCTV’s interview for a chapter of series “Dialogue”, Robert told the audiences that Information Technology (IT) is a new path of commerce. He said that IT might be something hard for him, but will never be an excuse for him to escape. For example, the used of IT in his business is really needed to keep on up to date.

1. Data management in Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts – backup, disaster recovery, Infasys, Opera Micros, yearly audit and penetration test for data safety.
2. Online application for Kuok foundation, Shangri-La Careers and academy.

In fact, we can’t deny how useful Information Technology is, in helping us developing our business. It makes business no boundaries. But, it could takes business to a new phrase of better or worst. So, these entrepreneurs really need to maximize the usage of ICT in their business, but at the same time they need to manage it well, to avoid from intruders. Thus, the example of complexities of Shangri-La system itself proved that how well the data management was.