Cream of the Crop This is a monthly column introducing professionals who represent the best in their respective industries Best of both worlds by Nicole Wong Working in the public and private sectors has created an ideal balance In the corporate world where executives are focused on achieving new targets and better results for their companies, it is often easy to lose perspective and forget that personal development is not achieved only in the workplace. There are, though, certain outstanding professionals who realise that the best way to broaden their horizons and thereby enhance career prospects is to get involved in causes which benefit the wider community. With his list of accomplishments in both public and private sectors, Barry Cheung, the chief executive of Titan Petrochemicals Group Limited, is a prime example of someone who has made equally significant contributions to society and to his corporate employers. Having worked over the years in a variety of industries and in different countries, Mr Cheung joined Titan in 2004 to oversee the company's growth. He has established a new internal structure and introduced updated management practices in order to create a clear direction for future business expansion. However, motivated by a keen sense of responsibility, Mr Cheung has also served as chairman of the ICAC'S corruption prevention advisory committee and as finance committee chairman for the Urban Renewal Authority (URA). "I am particularly pleased to have had a chance to serve the public through my participation in these organisations," he notes. "As far as I am concerned, preventing corruption and helping the URA to ensure transactions are conducted fairly and transparently are all matters of utmost interest and importance to the community at large." New challenges Mr Cheung's career has not been all smooth sailing, but determination and talent have helped him to overcome any difficulties encountered along the way. After graduating from Harvard Business School with an MBA in 1987, he joined McKinsey & Company, the international management consulting firm. When he decided to return to Hong Kong, this experience led to an offer to become a full-time member of the government's Central Policy Unit in 1993. He subsequently moved on to become chief executive of Fortune Oil the following year and things went well until the financial crisis of the late '90s. "That was an important lesson in crisis management," Mr Cheung recalls. "It also showed me the importance of being cautious and planning ahead." However, something good did result from that period when, through an introduction arranged by Korn/Ferry International, he came into contact with the chairman of Titan and was offered the chance to join the company. At the time, he was working as chief executive of Camelot Asset Management Limited. "Titan's prospects were good and there is plenty of room for adding value here," Mr Cheung says. "We are always looking for ways to improve the working environment for staff and, when it comes to recruitment, we take on high-calibre candidates with the help of executive search firms." Ability to analyse As work is a central part of Mr Cheung's life, he has always concentrated on getting the most out of every experience. "I find my work at Titan and in the public sector highly challenging, since it makes use of my strengths and keeps me learning," he says. In particular, he finds it has helped to have the ability to analyse situations and good problem-solving and communication skills. A thorough understanding of business practices has also made it possible to find long-term strategic solutions and tackle whatever problems arise. "Having an analytical mind was critical during my years with McKinsey," he explains. During that stage of his career, he also saw what it took to devise customised solutions for different kinds of business. "It brought me into contact with the top management of major companies and really strengthened my presentation skills," he recalls. "My mentor was a very experienced consultant and showed me you can be intelligent and successful but humble at the same time." Mr Cheung advises young people with ambition to look for internship opportunities during the summer holidays with companies they are interested in joining after graduation. He says this will show their willingness to learn and give them a chance to acquire practical experience in a challenging environment. "No matter what the position, take the initiative to express your opinions in meetings and demonstrate your desire to contribute to the company," he adds. In his spare time, one of Mr Cheung's guiding principles is to maintain a broad perspective. He takes a keen interest in current affairs and reads extensively about history, politics, literature and mathematics. Besides that, he enjoys listening to music, as well as watching and taking part in sports such as running and weightlifting. "I am also interested in what is happening around the world," he concludes. "We all should be!" Milestones 2004 Joined Titan as chief executive 2001 Became member of the managing board of the Urban Renewal Authority and chairman of its finance committee 2001 Appointed chairman of the ICAC's corruption prevention advisory committee 1999 Appointed CEO of Camelot Asset Management Limited 1994 Joined Fortune Oil as chief executive 1993 Full-time member of the government's Central Policy Unit on secondment from McKinsey 1987 Joined McKinsey & Company 1987 Received an MBA from Harvard Business School 1981 First-class BSc honours degree in mathematics and computer science from the University of Sussex Taken from Career Times 21 October 2005 Your comments are welcome at [email protected]