Inspiring well-being through innovation

IN JUST three-and-a-half decades, Ron Sim has succeeded in building one of Singapore's most recognisable household names. As founder, chairman, and chief executive officer of OSIM International Ltd - the home-grown group renowned for making innovative and high-quality massage chairs - he has steered the company through numerous challenges, emerging each time with a brand more resilient than before. OSIM's path hasn't always been easy. It weathered three key milestones of crisis - the recession in 1985, the Asian financial crisis in 1997 and the global financial crisis in 2008. "These re-defined and strengthened our ability to overcome and establish ourselves, to become who we are today," he says.

While the Singapore Exchange-listed company has in many ways grown in tandem with Singapore, it has also contributed to the country's success. "I suppose we have played a small part in Singapore's success story by establishing our brand in the Asia market."

The group expanded its reach to Hong Kong early on, in 1986. Roll-outs to other regional locales followed suit shortly after, with expansions to Taiwan, Malaysia, and China. "We have helped to fly the Singapore flag alongside the other Singapore success stories," adds Mr Sim.