The CEO Magazine Asia – July 2019

(Nandana) #1
theceomagazine.com | 127

certificate. He remained the company’s chairman until
September 2018 when he passed away. All of the family’s
brothers are still with the company, and now the third
generation is coming to work there.
Mun Sum studied a master’s degree in pharmacy in
the UK before rejoining the business in 1987. Along with
four other brothers, they continue to run the company.
The company does not believe in excessive borrowing
and has a very low tolerance for risk, shunning debt and
opportunities for rapid returns.
The company manufactures and distributes medical
products for external use, containing mostly natural
ingredients in a unique formulation that provides relief of
discomforts, such as headaches, stomach aches, muscle aches,
dizziness and itchiness. Its core product, the Axe Brand

S


ince he was appointed Managing Director in
1987, Leong Mun Sum has been carrying on
his father’s legacy. Leung Yun Chee founded the
company in 1928, after being sent to Singapore
from his native China to develop business for
a silk company. The inspiration for his business
principles and philosophy, Mun Sum maintains a low profit
margin and pursues high volume sales to cover production
and operation costs as a strategy that his father implemented.
“The company should have a trustworthy reputation and
stable development, and give back to society,” he says. “That
was my father’s influence.”
It continues to be a family business. Founder Leung
Yun Chee’s eldest son, Dr Leong Heng Keng, joined the
business in 1947, with nothing more than a high school

LEUNG KAI FOOK MEDICAL COMPANY
HAS BEEN PROVIDING PAIN RELIEF FOR
NEARLY A CENTURY. MANAGING DIRECTOR
LEONG MUN SUM CONTINUES TO DO
HIS BEST TO HONOUR THE LEGACY OF
HIS FATHER, THE FOUNDER.

WORDS ASHTON KOBLER • IMAGES ROB WALLER

“LOVE


WHAT


YOU DO,


DO WHAT


YOU LOVE.”


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