Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many of us are facing different kinds of challenges and started new ways to deal with them. Starting from February, we will have different alumni from East Asia region to share their insights and stories in the newsletter and monthly What's On in 2021.
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Industry insights and Global MBA 'takeaways'
Mr. Rex Gu
Industry insight 2021 - Shipping & Logistics
Around the world, many companies have been heavily reliant on production and supplies in Asia over the past many years. In the pre-Covid era, the discussion has already gathered pace for companies to rethink their supply chains and their stability and reliability for an uncertain future, to cope with the increased risk of trade wars, trends of nationalism and protectionism, issues of sustainability and human rights considerations.
Covid crisis has certainly resulted emergency measures on international trade, and its impact has been evidenced in the many operational & commercial disruptions many companies faced the past year, which has included everything from mitigating the effects of reduced supply, to managing disruptions to logistics suppliers, and hurdles in meeting their own contractual obligations to customers.
From what we have expeirenced, as a leading player in the shipping and logistiscs industry, manufacturing companies have realised the importance of having a sourcing/manufacturing hub outside of China in the aftermath of the pandemic. Many governments and trading blocs are even incentivising the shift back home or closer home. Furthure more, it’s no surprising to predict logistics hubs will re-emerge at the regional level in the post-Covid era, sake of establishing a flexible and adaptable supply chain, empoweed by which companies could source, assemble and deliver from their own backyards.
How has Global MBA changes your career path
Some of my best takeaways from my Global MBA expereince would be the horning of my strategic thinking and communication skills. The strategic thinking skills were not only applicable in the business world but across various areas of my personal life such as personal goals and finances – through weighing multiple options assisted by many practical strateigic decsion making frameworks I have learnt from my MBA journey. I’ve also benefited from the improved communication skills, through many practises from various MBA workshops, in the work setting while interacting with my subordinate, peers and managers. The communication skills also come in handy in social situations such as networking events or company functions. Being a better communicator is essential in everyday life, and I’m very grateful for the marked improvement I would not be able to achieve if not spending the years with UoM’s MBA program.
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*The views and opinions expressed in this section are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the editorial positions of UoM East Asia Centre.
Manchester Global MBA Alumnus: Mr. Rex Gu
Chief Financial Officer, Far East Operations
A.P. Moller - Maersk
Mr. Rex Gu is Chief Financial Officer of Maersk Group’s Far East Operations Centre, which consists of landside and ocean operations, procurement and supplier management across Korea, Japan, Russian Far East and Greater China.
Joined Maersk Group, a global leading shipping & logistics company, as management trainee in 2007, Rex has accumulated his international career with commercial and financial leadership roles during his station in Hong Kong, Australia, Russia, Finland, Baltics, and Mainland China. Prior to his current Far East CFO role based in Shanghai, he was General Manager of Finance for Maersk's Asia Pacific Region based in Hong Kong, with financial responsibility over the region's revenue budget of US$13 Billion per annum.
Rex holds a MBA degree with distinction from The University of Manchester, and is currently pursuing his Ph.D. with Università Bocconi. Being Fellow Member of Chartered Institute of Management Accountants, Chartered Global Management Accountant, CPA Aust., and Global Committee Member of AICPA, Rex is also Graduate of Australian Institute of Company Directors.
