Transfer at Sao Mai Group: Right Person, Right Place

2:20:31 PM | 4/4/2023

The transfer of power at Sao Mai Group has recently attracted the attention of investors. In fact, this is a very common and good matter of many large corporations, not only in Vietnam, because responsibility is handed to other people, usually younger ones. For years, younger generations at Sao Mai Group have always been cared for, cultured and trained to be morally and professionally qualified for greater responsibility.

In our daily life, we often hear the catchphrase “younger generations are always better.” This is said to be an admired exclamation of Confucius in a conversation with a 7-year-old boy called Xiang Tuo. Today, in our advanced society, it is easy for us to catch up with such young people. They acquire knowledge and practical reasoning, dare to think big and do hard jobs. Their vision can also be more open. They have many plans for the future and always think big. However, as experienced forerunners, we have to guide and show them when they are ready for new things, even challenges from real life. But, when we receive information about new personnel, we are always skeptical.

Hereditary is also not rare in today's society, both politically and economically. In private firms, the right to inherit property or the right to use a valuable brand is a very common sense, and also a natural thing. What matters is who will be deserved to be chosen because the whole fortune or a business empire created by generations cannot be transferred emotionally but to the right persons. That is the way of the wise.

Remarking on this affair, Mr. Le Thanh Thuan, General Director of Sao Mai Group, said: “The current generation of Sao Mai Group's successors have been meticulously trained from knowledge and skills in foreign countries. After returning home, they still have to be trained in a multi-business environment. They must successfully lead a small company before being chosen as candidates for succession. I always give them difficult quizzes about cultural conduct they know how to live for the community, have a high sense of responsibility at work and especially know how to endure hardships to live through the tough context.”


Sao Mai Group, where the Party Committee is rated to be clean and strong for many years

“Educated in a good environment, forged from hardship, F2 or F3 generations must clearly understand that a successor must know how to sacrifice, not enjoy, and to withstand pressures from growth,” he added.

Sao Mai Group, set up 26 years ago, has experienced many emotional ups and downs in business affairs to obtain higher growth year after year. In 2022, Sao Mai Group made revenue of VND13,800 billion and a net profit of nearly VND1,000 billion. This is a testament to a united, creative collective that knows how to conquer the most challenging difficulties of the economy.


Mr. Le Thanh Thuan in a meeting with a reporter

Thuan thinks leaders must have a vision and belief in the next generation if they are qualified. To grow up, a company must be visionary. He believes that, in 10 or 20 years from now, Sao Mai Group will have to be stronger than now. None other than today's successors will be the ones who lead Sao Mai Group to new highs. He is confident because Sao Mai has been one of the big corporations in Vietnam for years. To realize the mission of everlasting growth, we must have qualified, intelligent and ethical successors, with a solid foundation to be ready for the generational transfer. However, he emphasized, “To have present-day Sao Mai Group, we have worked hard for years. Therefore, sustainable development is always a top priority. The Advisory Council of the Group will accompany for a necessary sufficient time”.

Nguyễn Phương Anh  (Vietnam Business Forum)