BREAKING: Josie Lau removed from VP position at DBS!!

[cass888]

I think this is uncalled for to make personal attacks on people trying to make a public stand. Isn't this what we complain about PAP for hamtaming Chee and other political figures into penniless outcasts? Why can we just address the issue and not be so petty about the whole issue?

Logically you are correct but the reality for DBS is that if people are clamouring for a boycott of DBS cards accusing DBS of being anti-gay, they have to do something about it. It's just business, dollars and cents.

 

[TeeKee]

Yeah there are lotsa gay customers!

Josie reminded me of csj

Do something for the public and Not being appreciated!

 

[darememore]

Josie Lau Meng Lee, the ex-Aware President who was ousted from office by a vote of no confidence in an EGM, now finds herself being removed from her position as Vice President and Head of Marketing, Cards and Unsecured Loans at DBS Bank.

According to a Sunday Times report, Josie, has been “redesignated” to a new role. When contacted, DBS would say only that she is still working at the bank. Ms Lau did not answer calls. (read article here)

DBS was not known to be supportive of Josie’s involvement with Aware. In a press statement released on 17 April 2009, DBS castigated Josie for running for president of Aware without prior approval from them:

Read full report here:

http://wayangparty.com/?p=9147

Looks like Christians will suffer in silent for the time being till the next General Election.

 

[londontrader]

Yeah there are lotsa gay customers!

Josie reminded me of csj

Do something for the public and Not being appreciated!

Josie & hubby fit the profile of typical PAP voters. If she was like CSJ, she'll be walking out of DBS with her box of belongings.
This is the second time she screwed up in a pretty undemanding appointment in DBS. She should thank her auntie-in-law that she still has a job in cubicle land.

You're still spewing hatred at gays huh!
Praying for your soul, you closet homo boy

 

[londontrader]

Logically you are correct but the reality for DBS is that if people are clamouring for a boycott of DBS cards accusing DBS of being anti-gay, they have to do something about it. It's just business, dollars and cents.

A boycott?
Not really taking off at all
you can look at their latest trading income
Singaporeans are all about dollars & cents, most don't give a shit about their fellow man let alone gays.
Josie was a middle ranking manager who screwed up twice (both times in the national press). She's lucky (has some powerful backing) to have a job at all.

 

[londontrader]

I think this is uncalled for to make personal attacks on people trying to make a public stand. Isn't this what we complain about PAP for hamtaming Chee and other political figures into penniless outcasts? Why can we just address the issue and not be so petty about the whole issue?

If you have any experience working for a bank in Singapore, you'll know that they take a very dim view of any employee who attracts the wrong kind of attention. I'm not saying it's right, just pointing out the reality that us salaried people have to live with. This is Josie's second screwup, she's lucky to still have a job.

 

[londontrader]

DBS is just being very personal and petty here...

How many of their employees are actually involved in similar associations? I personally know of a couple of grassroots leaders working in DBS.

Lots of bank employees take part in bank sanctioned activities away from the office. The issue is about attracting the wrong kind of press. DBS's view (like the other banks) is that any activity should enhance the bank's reputation and not take away from it.

 

[cass888]

The very calling for a boycott would have put her job in jeapody.

A boycott?
Not really taking off at all
you can look at their latest trading income
Singaporeans are all about dollars & cents, most don't give a shit about their fellow man let alone gays.
Josie was a middle ranking manager who screwed up twice (both times in the national press). She's lucky (has some powerful backing) to have a job at all.

 

[shelltox]

What did CSJ do for the public , he is a nuisance to the public.

 

[eatshitndie]

you christians and gays alike are fucking shit morons.

this has nothing to do with religion, retribution, or some stupid conspiracy theory. when any executive of any public company, vp level and above especially, were to join a board of directors of another organization (whether it is an ngo or another business) he/she should get the prior agreement from the company he/she is working for. otherwise, if the company were to find it out in the news in a negative way, it would be a total embarassment and public relations disaster. no company which provides service to the general public would want to be blindsided. if she cleared with her boss and the boss with the board and company lawyers earlier, the onus would be on the company, and not her. no moron can suka suka bypass their own company code of conduct when it is a matter of public issue.

 

[masgnoeL]

While the company may not agree with its employee, but the company should not be be a busy-body as to what its employee do outside of work.

Some hold high appointment in churches. What is the difference between holding high appointment in church and in AWARE or for that matter, in any non-profit organization???

DBS is so full of shit.

 

[eatshitndie]

While the company may not agree with its employee, but the company should not be be a busy-body as to what its employee do outside of work.

Some hold high appointment in churches. What is the difference between holding high appointment in church and in AWARE or for that matter, in any non-profit organization???

DBS is so full of shit.

here's another moron.

a church and any ngo such as aware, case, nkf, etc. are not in the same league.

 

[londontrader]

The very calling for a boycott would have put her job in jeapody.

Very true - all that bad PR
Think Josie should relax and be a tai tai
Her hubby is making more than enough $$$$$

 

[londontrader]

While the company may not agree with its employee, but the company should not be be a busy-body as to what its employee do outside of work.

Some hold high appointment in churches. What is the difference between holding high appointment in church and in AWARE or for that matter, in any non-profit organization???

DBS is so full of shit.

Josie wasn't working for some corner coffee shop
She identified herself as a DBS VP and her actions as President of AWARE will reflect on the bank. Which company won't pay attention to the activities of their staff if there are implications for their brand? Josie already had a reputation in DBS as a religious nut with bad judgement ie. the Focus on the Family nonsense. It's no wonder that the Snr Management was nervous about her AWARE agenda.

 

[scoopdreams]

While the company may not agree with its employee, but the company should not be be a busy-body as to what its employee do outside of work.

Some hold high appointment in churches. What is the difference between holding high appointment in church and in AWARE or for that matter, in any non-profit organization???

DBS is so full of shit.

If Josie was truly a marketing and branding person, and have the best interests of DBS at heart, she would have volunteered personally to remove herself from the position after all the fiasco.

Let's look at the cardinal sins she has committed from a marketing and branding standpoint:

1. Aligned herself, and by public association with her career, that the DBS brand is affiliated with Christianity.
   A brand position is one of the most important and powerful tool any company can have. This is why HSBC sponsors and affiliates with golfing events - the brand position is that they cater to the needs of the posh, golfers' clubs, high-networth individuals. Money and religion does not mix, and banks know that. If she was the VP of Accounting, it would not be so bad... but she was the bluddy VP of MARKETING for chrissakes - she should know better than to take on affiliations (such as FotF) outside of agreed branding positions.
   _
2. Use her DBS credentials as justification for her to lead AWARE, and making a mess of it.
   That implies severe problems with the credibility, professionalism, and efficacy of DBS's management, and their employee promotion mechanics. Obviously she was incompetent, as her management of the AWARE issue has shown, and because she quoted her main qualification as a VP of DBS, she associated incompetency with DBS's staff as well.
   _
3. She made a PR mess, appearing guarded, secretive, and insidious, by her words, actions, and associations.
   Banks have always tried their best to appear as open and transparent as possible. They are arguably the leading experts on how to hide their dirty linen - and Josie in one fell swoop appear to associate DBS bank with the above connotations. For everyone understands the culture of a company, and hence the character of a company, is set by its employees. DBS would never want to be seen as a bank managed by guarded, secretive, and insidious staff.

As a result of all these, the DBS brand was threatened on these fronts :

1. Affiliation with religion (which was not a position they wanted to be in)
2. Incompetency of management (which gives a bad light to the bank, especially in these times)
3. Character connotations associated with DBS as a company that is contrary to how they want to portray themselves.

On hindsight, Josie would have been able to salvage the situation much better if she were to use this PR position right at the start :

"My experience with leading partly comes from having many years of experience in DBS, but however, that is secondary. My primary qualification to lead AWARE is the fact that I am a woman, and that I care, and most importantly, I have strong convictions in my beliefs."
​

She adds the DBS credentials, but disassociate herself from her work experience, and focuses on the leadership qualities that matters in an NGO - relevance, passion, and persistence.

 

[cass888]

Think she just got moved to a less visible position.

Very true - all that bad PR
Think Josie should relax and be a tai tai
Her hubby is making more than enough $$$$$