W Y Lin, President, Tatung

Electronics conglomerate Tatung is pioneering new ‘smart’ technologies that it hopes will improve its energy efficiency and allow it to expand at the same time. President W Y Lin talks about the company’s approach to energy, its investments in solar technology, and how its partnerships with local education establishments are sustaining Tatung’s prospects.

Patricio Jottar, CEO, CCU

CCU is a diversified beverage company, operating mainly in Chile, Argentina and Uruguay. It is the largest brewer in Chile, and the second largest in Argentina, but is also one of the most important companies in the soft drink, mineral water, wine, and liquors sectors. Patricio Jottar explains how he drove the business into these new areas, and the model of corporate governance adopted through all CCU’s operations.

Andrey Shalimov, Deputy Chairman of the Management Board, Vozrozhdenie Bank

The Russian banking sector in its present form is just 20 years old and, with much of it controlled by European banks, it has felt the strain since the 2008 crisis. Analysts are expecting a decrease in its capital this year and a worsening quality of consumer loans. Andrey Shalimov discusses how Vozrozhdenie Bank has attained a stronghold in the sector through a commitment to good corporate governance and positioning itself as a community bank.

Paddy Padmanathan, CEO, ACWA Power

Saudia Arabia -based ACWA Power has developed a name for itself as a responsible energy operator, with a key focus on renewables. CEO Paddy Padmanathan talks about the company’s three recently acquired solar energy plants, the economic case for investment in renewable energy, and Saudi Arabia’s ambitious energy mix targets.

Ammar Shata, Executive Director and CEO, AlKhabeer Capital

Financial markets in the Gulf region have enjoyed strong growth, helped by healthy fiscal and current account surpluses. However, the GCC’s dependence on oil as a source of income also makes volatility high and forecasting difficult. Ammar Shata explains how AlKhabeer Capital has gained a competitive advantage in investment banking, focusing on a female client-base, gaining their trust by co-investing, and helping them find the right opportunities in real assets.

Abdulkareem Abu Al Nasr, CEO, National Commercial Bank

While most people still consider Saudi Arabia to be heavily reliant on oil, economic diversification has been one of the country’s strategic pillars since the 1980s. Today oil accounts for only 28 percent of GDP, in part thanks to the commitment of banks like NCB to supporting SMEs and local corporates. CEO Abdulkareem Abu Al Nasr discusses the current business environment and the bank’s commitment to sustainability.