theceomagazine.com | 127People
MATTER
William Sim never forgot the advice he received
from one of his former CEOs, and it’s something
he has carried into all of his leadership roles.WORDS SHARON MASIGE • IMAGES HEILIND ASIA PACIFICW
hen William Sim entered the world of electronics, he
received a piece of advice from one of his CEOs that
has remained a cornerstone of both his personal and
professional life. “He said, ‘People are the single most
important resource in any organisation. It is the resource
that drives all other resources,’ ” the now President of
Heilind Asia Pacific tells The CEO Magazine.
William has spent most of his working life either on the manufacturing or
the distribution side of electronics. He began at Philips Semiconductors, working
in sales and marketing roles before getting bumped up to general manager for
South Asia–Pacific. William left Philips (which had changed its name to NXP) in
2006, and became senior vice-president of Global Operations at semiconductor
distributor WPG. He then moved on to Arrow Electronics as the vice-president
of Global Alliance before taking up his current role as president of Heilind Asia
Pacific. A subsidiary of US-based Heilind Electronics, Heilind Asia Pacific
specialises in distributing interconnect and electromagnetic products, switches,
relays, thermal management and circuit protection products. »Interview | INNOVATE