Tom is the Regional Director of Finance at BurdaLuxury. On any given day, you can find Tom overseeing the financial operations across all of BurdaLuxury’s entities in Asia. Whether it’s reviewing financial reports, forecasting budgets or optimising processes to improve efficiency, Tom is crucial in maintaining the financial health of the organisation.
Can you tell us a bit about your background and how you got started in finance?
Growing up in the UK, I was always good at numbers, IT, and had a keen interest in business, so becoming a chartered accountant felt like a natural step. I started my career as an auditor in London, which gave me a strong foundation in understanding financial systems and exposure to organisations of many different shapes and sizes. From there, after a brief stint in a small media agency in London, I moved to Thailand where I have lived for the last 10 years, leading the finance function for the Asian division of a French insurance group. During this time, I helped grow the business from a small operation in Thailand to a major player across Asia.
What’s the most exciting part about your job?
Given I am just a few months into the role, everything is currently new and exciting! I’ve enjoyed meeting the teams both in Asia and in Europe and learning about all the great initiatives people are working on, and I’ve been struck by the impressive expertise and experience we have in the company. I also love the diversity of the markets we operate in and the fact that no two days are the same.
What are some of the things that you would like to achieve in this role?
Ultimately, I want to help the company navigate the challenges of the digital transformation while continuing to grow profitability in a competitive landscape. Within the finance team, I’d like to build a more robust financial reporting system that offers real-time insights, which will support faster decision-making across the business. I also hope to foster a strong sense of collaboration and teamwork, so we can collectively learn from our strengths in each country.
What is a project that you’re currently working on (if you’re at liberty to say)?
In the short term, I’m going to be immersed in preparing my first annual budget with the company. While it may not sound glamorous, it’s the perfect way to get a solid grip on how the business works and help in shaping our future plans.
Why BurdaLuxury?
I chose BurdaLuxury because of its footprint in some of the fastest growing and dynamic countries in the region, and its forward-thinking, innovative and creative approach. Its ambitious plans to grow the business really stood out to me and I’m excited to contribute to its continued success across the region.
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