Less than two months after global giant Towers Perrin closed its human resources (HR) operations here, six former employees have joined the new Singapore office of United States-based organisational development firm Linkage.

They include Linkage Asia's Singapore-based president and chief executive, Mr. Sam Lam, who was managing consultant at Towers Perrin Singapore.
As part of Linkage's expansion into Asia, the Singapore office was set up on Aug 13.
In an interview recently, Mr. Lam said that five of his colleagues from Towers Perrin have joined him at Linkage Asia.

Earlier this month, The Straits Times reported that Towers Perrin closed its HR services operations here in June, but will continue to service its Singapore clients with consultants based primarily in Malaysia, to save costs.

Mr. Lam said the focus of Linkage Asia is primarily leadership development and related organisational development consulting assignments. 'Consultancy for leading multinationals and government organisations will make up half of our business; leadership development conferences, 30 percent; and the rest will be commissioned research.'

On prospects here, he believes that Singapore, with 'its quality talent, excellent infrastructure and advantageous position amid exciting market opportunities is uniquely poised to be the gateway to our business in Asia'.

He added: 'For premium-end consulting like leadership development, the capacity to deliver highly customised, innovative solutions will be our key differentiator.'
Mr. Lam is confident that the years of experience and the credentials he and his consultants have established with clients here and around the region will give them an edge in developing future leaders.

Linkage Asia's business plan calls for a dozen consultants by the first quarter of next year, so the company will be recruiting. It has started operations in Malaysia, and will be in Hong Kong, Thailand and Indonesia by next year.

Mr.Lam has more than 15 years of leadership development and HR consulting experience in Asia.

© The Straits Times print edition.