About the Company
Our client is a publicly listed automotive electronics company with close to 7,000 employees globally. The company specialises in automotive electronic products, intelligent driving, and EV-related technologies, serving major OEMs worldwide.
With R&D and manufacturing operations across multiple countries, the company is expanding its footprint in Southeast Asia and is now looking for a General Manager to lead and grow their Malaysian subsidiary.
The Opportunity
This is a country leadership role with full ownership of the Malaysian operation. You will lead the business from the ground up establishing the team, driving market expansion across Southeast Asia, and reporting directly to the Company President. This is a rare opportunity for an entrepreneurial leader who thrives on building something from scratch with the backing of a well-funded multinational.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead the setup and registration of the Malaysian subsidiary, including team building, office facilities, and full operational infrastructure
- Formulate and execute a 3-year business plan, establishing sales and after-sales teams and building the supporting systems
- Drive market expansion across Southeast Asia, with a roadmap to extend into broader regional markets over time
- Work with HQ product teams on adaptive development research, ensuring products meet local consumer preferences and regulatory certification requirements
- Build and optimise the after-sales service system and manage customer satisfaction across the region
- Build the organisational structure from zero to one, implementing a talent localisation strategy to develop a high-performing local team
- Ensure full compliance with local labour laws, tax regulations, and commercial compliance requirements across all operating markets
- Manage key local partnerships and stakeholder relationships to support business growth
- Represent the company with government agencies, OEM customers, suppliers, and industry bodies across the region
- Report directly to the Company President on operational performance, growth milestones, and market opportunities
Ideal Candidate Profile
- 10+ years of experience in the automotive industry, with at least 5 years in a team management or leadership role
- Background in OEMs, large automotive component companies, automotive electronics, after-sales service, or overseas project management
- Strong market insight and familiarity with the automotive industry policies and competitive landscape in Southeast Asia (experience in West Asia or India markets is a plus)
- Holistic business thinker with excellent commercial acumen and the ability to independently run a company end-to-end
- Proven track record of setting up greenfield operations or scaling businesses in Southeast Asia
- Fluent in English and mandarin is advantageous
- Bachelor's degree or above in Vehicle Engineering, International Trade, Business Administration, or related fields
- Strong cross-cultural communication skills and adaptability, with an entrepreneurial mindset
- High compliance awareness and integrity; ability to navigate complex regulatory environments across multiple jurisdictions
What's On Offer
- Country leadership role reporting directly to the Company President of a publicly listed multinational
- Opportunity to build a subsidiary from scratch with strong financial and operational backing from HQ
- Regional scope covering Southeast Asia with potential for further market expansion
- Competitive executive compensation package (negotiable based on experience)
- Be part of the global expansion of a leading automotive electronics company at the forefront of EV, ADAS, and intelligent mobility
