KC Yan: HRBP, HRD Training Expert

KC Yan is an accomplished HR Practitioner – who has made his mark in both the manufacturing and service industries, working with renowned global multinational corporations.

His journey from humble beginnings to reaching the pinnacle of his career showcases a remarkable trajectory, marked by numerous achievements across various domains and roles within multinational companies across the region.

HIGHLIGHTS

Senior Principal Consultant at ITD World, providing expert guidance and consultancy services.
Held the position of Sr Human Resources Director, Asia-Pacific & Japan at Freescale Semiconductor, overseeing HR operations across 9 countries, including Japan, Korea, China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore, India, and Australia.
Accomplished major milestones, such as successfully navigating the spin-off from Motorola SPS, establishing a high-performance culture, driving business wins, and implementing strategic talent life cycle development initiatives.
Previously served as the Human Resources Director, Asia-Pacific & Japan for Motorola Semiconductor Product Sector, where notable achievements included leading major cost-driven restructuring efforts and talent acquisition initiatives.

Distinguished role as Sr Human Resource Business Partner Reinsurance Asia at Swiss Reinsurance Co., responsible for managing HR operations in the region.
Held the position of Head of Human Resources, Asia-Pacific, with dual reporting lines to both a Group Executive Council Member & CEO of Asia Division in Hong Kong and a Group Management Board Member & Group Head of Human Resources in Zurich.
Holds a Professional Certificate in Supply Chain Management from ITC, United Nations, Geneva, Switzerland.
Certified Coaching & Mentoring Professional, demonstrating expertise in guiding and developing individuals and teams.
Holds a Master’s degree in Industrial Management from the University of East Asia, Macau, showcasing a strong academic foundation.

AREAS OF EXPERTISE

Talent Management: Expertise in identifying, developing, and retaining top talent, ensuring organizations have the right people in the right roles to drive success.
Succession Planning: Proficient in creating and implementing robust succession plans to ensure a smooth transition of key leadership positions and maintain continuity in critical roles.
Performance Management: Skilled in designing and implementing performance management systems that drive individual and organizational excellence, fostering a culture of accountability and continuous improvement.
Operations & Project Management: Extensive experience in effectively managing operations and leading projects to achieve strategic objectives, optimizing resources and delivering results within defined timelines.
Change Management & Strategies for Change: Proven ability to navigate complex organizational changes, developing and implementing effective change management strategies that facilitate smooth transitions and drive adoption of new initiatives.
Organizational Behavior & Design: In-depth knowledge of organizational behavior principles and expertise in designing and aligning organizational structures, processes, and systems to enhance productivity, collaboration, and employee satisfaction.
Leadership Excellence: Strong focus on developing exceptional leaders through comprehensive leadership development programs and initiatives, fostering a culture of high-performance and continuous growth.

Coaching & Mentoring: Skilled in providing guidance and support to individuals and teams, leveraging coaching and mentoring techniques to unlock potential, enhance performance, and promote professional growth.
Employee Engagement: Proficient in designing and implementing strategies to enhance employee engagement, creating a positive work environment that fosters motivation, productivity, and loyalty.
Strategic Human Resource Management: Extensive experience in aligning HR strategies with overall business objectives, leveraging human capital to drive organizational success and achieve competitive advantage.
Organizational Development: Expertise in driving organizational development initiatives, including culture transformation, talent development, and change initiatives that enhance organizational effectiveness and agility.
Mergers & Acquisition: Proficient in managing the HR aspects of mergers and acquisitions, guiding organizations through the integration process and ensuring smooth transitions while preserving employee engagement and productivity.
Cross-Cultural Skills: Strong ability to navigate and effectively collaborate in diverse cultural settings, leveraging cross-cultural skills to build bridges, foster understanding, and drive successful international business operations.
Influencing Skills: Demonstrated proficiency in influencing and negotiating at all levels of the organization, effectively advocating for HR initiatives and fostering collaboration to achieve win-win outcomes.

BIOGRAPHY

With an impressive total of 37 years of professional experience, KC’s career initially took off during his 19-year tenure at Motorola as a Production Supervisor in the manufacturing sector. Through his unwavering commitment to execution excellence and exceptional project leadership skills, he swiftly ascended the management hierarchy. During this time, KC gained invaluable expertise by rotating across different business units and functional departments, including production, supply chain, customer support, materials planning, project and operations management, as well as TQM, 6 Sigma, and Kaizen methodologies. In his final role as a Manufacturing Operations Manager, he effectively oversaw a workforce of approximately 600 employees, providing support to global customers in Europe, Asia, and North America.

KC’s professional journey has also involved managing transcultural business teams, fostering collaboration and synergy among individuals from diverse backgrounds spanning Japan, South Korea, People’s Republic of China, Hong Kong SAR, Taiwan, Malaysia, Singapore, India, Australia, Thailand, Vietnam, Switzerland, Holland, Germany, France, United Kingdom, and the United States.

Driven by a deep interest in organizational development and consultancy, KC successfully transitioned from manufacturing to human resources, accumulating 18 years of experience in this field. Throughout his tenure, he has spearheaded numerous significant milestones, including cost-driven restructuring initiatives, talent acquisition strategies, succession planning, policy rationalization, change management, country management for policy regulations, merger and acquisition processes, establishment of performance-driven cultures, and strategic talent development across the entire employee lifecycle.

KC’s academic credentials include a Master’s degree in Industrial Management from the University of East Asia, Macau, as well as an Advanced Diploma in Management from the Malaysia Institute of Management (MIM). He is widely recognized as a respected speaker at various international and regional conferences, including prominent platforms such as ARTDO, the Center for Creative Leadership, the Corporate Executive Board, the Conference Board, and the Conference Board. In addition to his passion for knowledge sharing, KC has delivered comprehensive programs at the diploma, graduate, and master’s levels for esteemed institutions such as the Malaysian Institute of Management (MIM), the Institute of Training & Development (now known as ITD World), and the Malaysian Institute of Purchasing & Materials Management (MIPMM). His expertise spans multiple subjects, encompassing Human Resource Management, Industrial and Operations Management, Organizational Behavior, Management in Action, and Strategies for Change. Furthermore, KC has undertaken numerous consulting projects and conducted customized in-house training programs.

As a results-oriented HR expert, KC possesses a unique ability to bridge conceptual frameworks with actionable human capital initiatives, effectively translating business strategies into tangible outcomes. His high energy levels and intellectual acumen enable him to navigate complex and evolving business challenges, while his sharp focus on data-driven decision-making and process orientation allows him to dive into the details while keeping a strategic perspective. KC’s exceptional influence skills empower him to broker win-win deals at the executive level.

Notably, KC is revered for his ability to facilitate interactive learning sessions, leaving a lasting impact on participants through the compelling stories he shares. Leveraging his extensive and diverse experiences, he brings forth a wealth of best practices derived from his collaborations with various industries and organizations.

HRBP, HRD Expert (with Serely Alcaraz at ITD Thailand’s CHRBP Training workshop, 2018)

Participating in ASHRM workshop, July 2018 at Manila, Philippines

From left to right: Dr. Peter Chee, KC Yan, and Dr. Marshall Goldsmith

CLIENTS OF KC YAN

TESTIMONIALS

KC was my Senior Human Resources business partner for my role as Regional President Asia Pacific for Swiss Re Group. We built an effective relationship where he operated as a key sounding board and KC led HR related strategic discussions with the Asia Management Team. Our key focus was resourcing and succession. Matters of talent engagement, retention and motivation were high on our agenda. KC was highly engaged, often at the individual person level in career discussions.

I have known KC Yan for over 15 years and he has impressed me as a person of high integrity and wealth of knowledge. KC had worked with me at Motorola Semiconductor as the Director of Human Resources for the Asia-Pacific Region. We had worked closely in many areas, including compensation plan, performance evaluation, talent retention, competitive benchmarking, leadership training, talent pipeline and much more. His deep insights in organization development had contributed to the fast business expansion at the time.

I was privileged to work with KC Yan at Freescale Semiconductor. KC’s strength lies in his keen ability to translate business strategies into granular bites for practical execution on the ground. With his sharp analytical mind, he can “connect the dots” in the business with ease. His strategic HR work around talent management and engagement has great impact on workforce retention. Certainly an excellent HR strategist with a well-balanced view of what makes business sense!