G. Gnanalingam

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Tan Sri G. Gnanalingam is a business person from Malaysia. He is the current executive chairman of Westport, one of Malaysia's leading port operators. The US$700 million entity has chalked impressive heights with a consistent double-digit growth since it opened its doors for business in 1996 under his stewardship

The Singapore-born industry captain, who grew up in Port Dickson and Kuala Pilah, is of Sri Lankan Tamil ancestry. He joined the privately held port in 1994 and was instrumental in steering the port into a leading cargo and freight player in Asia.

[edit] Ports Involvement

Initiated into the world of transport with his appointment to the Board Member of Port Klang Authority since 1987, Tan Sri Datuk G Gnanalingam defies conventional wisdom and thoughts.

A man lent to quickly turning challenges into opportunities, Tan Sri Datuk G Gnanalingam, became the Executive Chairman of Kelang Multi Terminal Sdn Bhd (Westport) since 1996 when Malaysia’s first green-field port was privatized.

Adopted “flexi-port & fast-port” approaches in advocating changes and defying conventional practices to cargo and ship handling, including by implementing integrated port charges,” the citation read.

G Gnanalingam, was also cited for “de-mystifying” general perception of the industry by the public, making ports more public-friendly and creating public-awareness and adopting “garden port concept” making Westport probably the only such port in the world.

He was credited for introducing innovative measures to win traffic during 1997/98 financial crisis that saw Port Klang achieving positive growth as well as fostered feedering to Westport as well as for his commitment to community and welfare causes.

[edit] Sports Involvement

An avid sports fan and one-time athlete himself, Gnanalingam is also widely regarded as a marketing guru.

A former marketing director with British American Tobacco, he was the man behind such projects like bringing live telecasts of football's World Cup to Malaysian homes in the 80s.

He was also responsible, during a nine-year period as a consultant for commercial operations for RTM, of increasing its revenue from RM55 million in 1988 to RM350 million in 1996.

It was in 1989 that Tan Sri Gnanalingam made his mark in Malaysian sports when, as marketing consultant, he turned the Kuala Lumpur Sea Games into a money-making event. The Olympic Council of Malaysia Building, built at a cost of RM6 million at that time, stands testimony to the success.

[edit] References

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