Nathaniel Yong-Seng T.

Regional Head of HR, APAC | 20+ Years Transforming Workforces Across Asia | M&A & Culture Change | Gallup Accredited

Singapore

About

I have spent 20+ years doing one thing: helping organisations build the people foundations that make growth possible. Across Suntory, L'Oréal, Unilever, Evonik and DSM, I have partnered C-suite and ExCom leaders across 15+ APAC markets — through market entries, M&A integrations, divestitures, HRIS overhauls, culture transformations and organisation rebuilds. Not as a spectator, but as the person in the room who connects the dots between business strategy and human reality. What I bring: → M&A depth — I have led HR end-to-end across acquisitions, integrations and divestitures (most recently for a 700-employee Thai health supplement brand while simultaneously running APAC HR for three markets) → Build experience — I have set up HR functions from zero four times across three different countries and industries → Regional breadth with local credibility — I have worked across SEA, China, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, India, Asia Africa and Middle East and global, and I know the difference between a regional framework and one that actually lands on the ground → Coaching and human insight — ICF ACC (practicing) and Gallup Certified Strengths Coach; I lead with curiosity before I lead with solutions I am particularly energised by environments of complexity and change — where organisations are evolving, and where leadership decisions have a disproportionate impact on outcomes. This is where HR can move beyond support to actively shaping direction, capability, and execution.

Experience

  • Suntory Wellness Asia Pacific (Hybrid)
    • Head of People & Culture, APAC
      Jun 2023 - Present · 3 yrs 1 mo

      Suntory Group – Wellness Division Suntory Wellness, part of the iconic Suntory Group, is dedicated to health, beauty, and overall well-being through products like Sesamin EX, Locomore, Milcolla, and VARON. ———-- Lead People & Culture strategy across Singapore, Thailand, and Taiwan, supporting a multi-market organisation of ~1,000 employees. Key focus areas include organisational transformation, leadership development, and building scalable HR infrastructure aligned to business growth.

    • Head of HR Thailand - NBD Healthcare
      Mar 2024 - Apr 2025 · 1 yr 2 mos

      NBD Healthcare is home to leading wellness and beauty brands including the award-winning VISTRA, TRUSLEN, and derma-care brand PROVAMED—committed to delivering “better health for better life.” Head of HR, Thailand (Dual Role, based in Bangkok) Served as interim Head of HR for NBD Healthcare (Top 3 Thai health supplement brand, 700 employees, 3 manufacturing plants) throughout the full M&A integration

  • Regional Human Resources Business Partner l Learning & DEI Lead - NA & SAPMENA at L'Oréal
    Nov 2021 - Jun 2023 · 1 yr 8 mos

    - Business Partner to South Asia Pacific Middle East North Africa Region for IT & Beauty Tech Division - Learning Partner & Diversity Champion to North Asia + South Asia Pacific Middle East North Africa Region for IT & Beauty Tech Division

  • Head of HR - Singapore & Bangladesh at Lidl Asia Pte. Limited
    Jan 2020 - Nov 2021 · 1 yr 11 mos

    Regional HR Lead for Singapore Regional HQ Sourcing Unit & Bangladesh Quality & Production Plant. Lidl is a Germany headquartered retail supermarket.

  • Regional HR Business Partner APAC at DSM
    Dec 2018 - Jan 2020 · 1 yr 2 mos

    HR business partner & Regional Transformation for DSM life science unit of Animal Nutrition Health business in Asia Pacific region

  • Evonik (2 yrs 10 mos)
    • Senior HRBP - Singapore & Asia South
      Apr 2018 - Dec 2018 · 9 mos

      Regional HR business partner for Asia Pacific South Region Resource Efficiency Business Unit Site HR Leader for Singapore (2 manufacturing sites) + Evonik 1st Innovation Center outside Germany

    • Global Project Lead - People & Organisation Development
      Jun 2017 - Mar 2018 · 10 mos

      Double head as Global Project Lead & People Org Development (Based in German for a short term assignment for 3 months). - Global Product Design & delivery for Onboarding & Recruitment Active Sourcing Transformation & Process Improvement Projects

    • Talent Lead - Asia
      Mar 2016 - Mar 2018 · 2 yrs 1 mo

      People & Organization Development Manager Asia (total Asia & Pacific) - Regional HR Process Improvement Lead (based in Singapore) - Global Onboarding Process Lead & Global Recruitment Lead - Active Sourcing Workstream (based in Essen, Germany)