Exclusive Interview with
SCAO Group CU GM Mr Kozo To
“Think Simple!”
Mr Kozo To
SCAO Group CU GM
Sumitomo Corporation Asia & Oceania Pte Ltd
When the Covid-19 pandemic hit, it left even the most seasoned, seen-it-all CFOs feel insecure. In Apr 2020, you were “born” the Group CFO (CU GM) of SCAO group. What are the key drivers to success that you watch the most in this challenging time?
Singapore was in the midst of Covid-19 pandemic when I arrived in April 2020. Since then, I have never gone out of Singapore. Covid-19 is a completely new situation in which we have not experienced before, but I have been staying positive and enjoying working in SCAO. My current prime concern is how we can realise a sense of unity and belonging due to the long working from home arrangement and how we can maintain integrity and motivation under the current situation. I have not found an immediate solution yet, but I believe the most important thing is to communicate straight from the heart and respect each other, which are things I constantly keep in mind.
CSR activity - giving lecture about SC to Japanese high school students
in 2018
With SCAO Singapore colleagues in 2021 – farewell for a retired colleague
There have been a lot of discussions and confusion around the concepts of Strategic Business Units (SBUs) and Joint & Several under SHIFT2023. What should we focus on and how can all employees work together to achieve success together?
SCAO region is the most important market for SC Group where significant growth can be expected. At the end of FY2020, around USD 73 billion worth of assets were allocated in our region and we are targeting a profit of USD 700 million at the end of SHIFT2023. I believe that our market has the potential to earn USD 1 billion in the future. This is our common goal for 27 SCAO regional offices and 110 group companies in 14 countries under the Joint & Several concept, and Strategic Business Units (SBUs) formulate the necessary global product strategies to achieve our common goal.
Of course, each regional office or group company play a different role; likewise for each of us in SCAO group. If every organisation and individual achieve their own targets, we can achieve our common goal as SCAO Group collectively. This is the chain of goals. Therefore, the most important thing for all of us is to achieve our own targets and I am focusing on playing my role as both CFO and Group CU GM. Let’s have fun as we strive to achieve our own targets!
We know that you love watching and playing football and that you have been supporting Crystal Palace Football Club “The Eagles” for more than 20 years. Could you please share with us more about your love for football?
I love playing and watching football. I was playing football for 9 years in my school days and was also playing futsal in SC Tokyo. When I was working in SCEU (London) from 2001 to 2007, I lived in Croydon (South London) with my family. Croydon was the home town of Crystal Palace Football Club (CPFC) called “Eagles”. Since then, my family and I have been supporting CPFC for almost 20 years.
During our stay in Croydon, we got season tickets and went to all 19 home games and some away games each season. Now CPFC is in the Premier League (1st tier in England), but CPFC went up and down between the Premier League and Championship (2nd tier) when we were living in Croydon. Anyway whether CPFC won or lost, be it in the Premier League or Championship, all games left good memories. Selhurst Park, the home stadium of CPFC, was an unforgettable place for my family where we experienced many emotions – happy, sad, excited or depressed depending on the matches we watched!
“Come on Eagles!”
Beer party in Osaka in 2018
Welcome and farewell party in LNG Japan in 2010
Executive Committee for indoor athletic event in Osaka in 2017
Futsal Team in SC Tokyo, 2015
My HR team in 2008
With my kids at Selhurst Park (CPFC home stadium) in 2006
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SNAPSHOT
I strongly believe in… “Que Sera, Sera” (Whatever will be, will be)
I spend most of my time.. watching “romantic” dramas and football games on television
The food I crave most often is… Tonkotsu (pork bones) Ramen
One personal rule that I never break is… to be honest and optimistic always
The thing that cheers me up whenever I think about is… Crystal Palace Football Club wins a match
One thing I really want but can’t afford yet is… to live in a seaside house (of course I don’t work there!)
If I could go back in time, I would… go back in high school time. There are several things I wish to start over…
If I have enough money to live comfortably without having to work, I would… take over Crystal Place Football Club and win the Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League (so called “The Treble”)
