Ann Yak Siong Hardware Sdn Bhd was established in Malaysia in 1982, founded by Mr. Oh Chiew Ho, starting with a modest 2,000 sq. ft. hardware shop and a small team of three employees. Over the years, the company evolved beyond its origins in hardware trading, expanded its operations as a trader, stockist, and distributor of steel and construction materials, with a particular focus on structural steel sections and culminating in AYS VENTURES BERHAD listing on the Main Market of Bursa Malaysia Securities Bhd (stock code: AYS 5021) in 2012. The AYS group now generates an annual turnover of RM 1.3 billion.
Today the business is overseen by its new Group CEO, Mr Oh Chiew Ho’s daughter, Ms Jess Oh Pooi Foon. AYS Group has built itself a reputation as a large-scale steel and building materials distributor working across Malaysia and Singapore.
“Over the past 40 years, our founder has leveraged his efforts and experience in the industry to bear on the growth of the business,” Jess Oh tells us. “Throughout the years, we have also continuously built our team, attracting the people and talent that contribute to our business’s success. This combination of new talent and established experience is our strength.”
That talent forms the foundation of a strong network of suppliers and the wide customer base that AYS Group has built up. As well as supplying raw materials, AYS Group’s service offerings include 3D engineering design with Building Information Modelling (“BIM”), manufacturing of steel purlins, and truss decks, project management services and providing one-stop solution-based steel services to support our customers in the construction, oil & gas and shipbuilding industries.
Jess Oh says. “What sets us apart is our focus on large scale projects. We have a highly project-orientated team, and we package our services into a one-stop-shop solution. When our customers tender a project, we ensure they receive the materials they need on time, enabling them to complete the job efficiently, and at competitive prices.”
It is an offering that makes AYS Group a powerful partner to have, but also places them in a potentially vulnerable position regarding changes in the economy.
“We need to be highly dynamic, because we are in very close contact with economic changes,” Jess Oh shares. “Currency fluctuations, such as the softening of the US dollar, directly impact the cost of our stockholding. We are also facing challenges from the slowdown in the Chinese economy. Given China’s proximity to our country, the capacity of Chinese steel production has a direct impact on our business. We have to manage price fluctuations very closely to continue securing orders and procuring materials in a price competitive way.”
Seeking Talent from All Sources
However as Jess Oh points out, AYS Group’s ability to meet these challenges is closely linked to its ability to attract and retain talent.
“Attracting new talent is a challenge that is faced by the entire industry,” Jess Oh points out. “Nowadays we find the younger generation is reluctant to enter the construction industry, with many turning to the financial and IT sectors.”
However, as AYS Group has successfully transitioned to its second generation with Jess Oh assuming the Group CEO position, the company is ready to address this challenge.
“In terms of succession planning, we have overcome the first major challenge, the transition from first generation to second generation,” Jess Oh explains. “My father identified successors for the lead positions in the company, helping us navigate one of the significant stepping stones we faced.”
What was particularly special about this succession planning was that Mr Oh Chiew Ho marked his daughter, Jess, out among her three brothers as the one to succeed him as Group CEO, particularly in a very male-led industry.
“The steel industry is generally very male-orientated, and appointing a daughter instead of one of the sons in a Chinese family is not so easy,” Jess Oh says. “My father is still my Executive Chairman and is well respected across the market and in the industry. At the same time, my three brothers have agreed to take on other key positions in the company. Ultimately our objective is to identify the most talented people for the right positions. The disparity between male and female employment is decreasing, with an emphasis now on capability, regardless of gender.”
Jess Oh herself joined the industry 20 years ago, and through the early years of her career, she was used to being the only woman in an environment heavily populated by men.
“I have become comfortable and used to it,” she says. “My business partners respect me, and if you know what you are doing and can instill confidence in your business partners, then your clients, suppliers, and staff will allow you to lead. The support will be there because they believe in your ability to deliver on your promises.”
It is this ability not only to acquire new talent, but also to accurately assess that talent and its potential, that lies at the heart of AYS Group’s strategy going forward.
“We continually invest in human resources, aligning our KPI with the perspective we need,” Jess Oh says. “We are identifying potential and considering how to implement out succession planning in a professional and sustainable manner.”
“I believe everyone has their strengths and weaknesses, the important thing is to identify the strengths of our people and address the gaps in our available skillset through training,” Jess Oh says. “These are the areas we continue to invest resources and time into, building a stronger team.”
That goal has been the driving force behind all of Jess Oh’s decisions. Talking with her, it is clear she is taking a long-term perspective in her leadership of the company.
The Future of AYS
under Jess Oh The future of AYS is firmly anchored in its core values – Alliance, Yield, Sustainability. These values not only define the company’s identity but also shape its strategic direction and long-term goals.
AYS’ priority is to build a sustainable company. This means empowering employees and not relying on a single leader to carry forward the company’s vision.
“Even though we have been in business for 42 years, we consider ourselves a young company, embracing a youthful mindset, with significant untapped potential. There are a lot of things we think we can do to drive the team to another level and make the company stronger.”
“We will continue forging strategic alliances with our business partners to diversify our offerings, but those diversifications will be co-related and in line with our co-related business area allowing AYS in creating new avenues for growth,” Jess Oh says.
In short, AYS is poised for continued success and growth, driven by the company’s dedication to employee empowerment, sustainability and strategic partnerships.
