Sean Yang
I started working with Trelleborg Oil & Marine back in 2015, where I was employed as the regional manager based in Southeast Asia. Since then, my remit has expanded to include the APAC region, with the addition of some work in South Asia. I travel regularly as part of the role, in order to cover the large portfolio of markets. Before moving into this role, I specialised in electrical engineering, so it has been an interesting sector move for me.
With such a keen market focus, what would you say are the key dynamics in Asia at the moment?
There has been a definite uptick in industry momentum over the last year, and customers have been more active as the oil prices have increased. My take would be of quiet optimism. From a business perspective, things appear to be heading towards stability. Projects have been re-ignited, and our customer base is expanding into new markets.
As the spotlight turns towards LNG, how do you think this is being received across the APAC markets?
Asia is the largest importer region of natural gas, so there is no shortage of opportunities available. It is definitely still a hot topic, with plenty of conferences and speaking opportunities. Projects are also on the rise, particularly in Indonesia for example. It may take a little while before we see a significant uptake in technology – perhaps one to two years – but things are certainly moving in the right direction.
What is your favourite thing about working with Trelleborg?
I think that I have been given a great deal of trust and autonomy from my colleagues over in France – they have been confident in my ability to work independently and because of that, we have built a good working relationship. I enjoy working across lots of different cultures and working together with people from different parts of the globe.
What would you say are your greatest achievements within this role?
I think my main achievement would be expanding Trelleborg Oil & Marine’s presence in new markets. This has definitely been reflected in the sales numbers and market penetration statistics, not just with new customers but also in bringing back returning customers.
Finally, Sean, when you’re not travelling all across the APAC region, what do you like to do in your spare time?
I used to play badminton a lot, but mostly these days I cycle to keep fit. I have two young children who keep me very busy – my time off is often spent with family.
Contact Sean Yang