The Straits Times
Oct 25, 2011
Eu Yan Sang chief is top entrepreneur
Award recognises his modern approach to traditional health care
By Esther Teo
A MODERN take on a business steeped in tradition has garnered the head of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) firm Eu Yan Sang International a top business award.
Group chief executive Richard Eu, 63, was named the overall Ernst & Young (E&Y) Entrepreneur of the Year at an awards gala at Ritz-Carlton Millenia Singapore last night.
The prize followed Mr Eu being named the E&Y Entrepreneur of the Year for the traditional health-care category last month.
The top award recognises his work in transforming the company that began as a family business in 1879 into an industry leader offering a modern scientific approach to TCM health-care and wellness products, making it more accessible to modern consumers with retail stores.
Mr Eu will now battle it out with more than 50 other entrepreneurs from around the globe for the E&Y World Entrepreneur of the Year Awards in Monte Carlo next June.
Previous winners have included Cirque du Soleil's founder, Canadian Guy Laliberte; and Singapore's Ms Olivia Lum, the group president and CEO of Hyflux, who this year became the first woman and the first Singaporean to clinch the global award.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs Teo Chee Hean told the 500 guests at the awards ceremony that Mr Eu has revolutionised the concept of traditional Chinese medicine.
'He hired English-speaking staff, launched easy-to-prepare herbal products, and distributed products in supermarkets and online stores to appeal to the younger generation,' he noted.
Mr Eu represents the fourth-generation of the Eu family, whose patriarch was the industrialist Eu Tong Sen.
He started his career in the financial industry but after spending 18 years dabbling in merchant banking, stock broking and venture capital, he volunteered to join the family business in 1989.
In 1993, he took over the reins and, under his leadership, Eu Yan Sang soon became a household name in Asia with about 186 retail outlets locally and in the region.
Mr Eu noted that businesses must always evolve with their environment and consumers to ensure they stay relevant.
But small steps should be taken rather than embarking on a big gamble.
'Everything should be evolutionary. You can't change a business so radically, it becomes something totally different. For us especially, when you're talking about a traditional business.'
The next step is to take larger strides into Chinese cities such as Shanghai, Mr Eu said. The firm has five to six stores in Guangdong province.
He added that he will 'try to do my best to keep the Singapore flag flying' at the global awards next year.
Three other winners were presented with awards last night. They were Tung Lok Restaurants executive chairman Andrew Tjioe for the lifestyle category, Wee Tiong director Tan Wee Beng as the 'emerging' entrepreneur, and Serial System executive chairman Derek Goh for the electronic components distribution award.
[email protected]