He has been appointed the new general manager of Takeda Vietnam, with over 20 years of experience across Singapore, Shanghai, Hong Kong, and Dubai.
As Vietnam continues to experience rapid growth, he is committed to supporting the government’s healthcare initiatives by making Takeda’s life-transforming medicines and vaccines accessible to the Vietnamese population. His leadership aims to foster innovation, collaboration, and a positive impact on Vietnam’s healthcare landscape.
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Benjamin Ping, General Manager of Takeda Vietnam. Photo courtesy of Takeda Vietnam |
What inspired you to join the Vietnam team, and what are your initial impressions of the country?
Benjamin Ping: On a personal level, having visited Vietnam many times, I find the culture, the people, and the food something I truly relate to. Additionally, as a Singaporean who has spent the past three years abroad, returning to Southeast Asia feels like coming home.
Professionally, Vietnam’s economic growth has been remarkable. The opportunity to contribute to this growth by bringing Takeda’s innovative medical portfolio to the population was a compelling one. As I explored more about Vietnam’s culture, I found that the country’s bamboo trees strongly resonated with me. They symbolize resilience, strength, and adaptability, values that reflect both the spirit of Vietnam and our corporate philosophy.
I see bamboo as a metaphor for Takeda’s leadership in Vietnam: rooted in our core values (like the bamboo’s roots), strong through our people (like its trunk), and flexible in strategy (like its branches). This represents the way I aim to lead Takeda Vietnam—staying grounded in our mission while adapting to the changing healthcare landscape.
How do you reflect on Takeda’s corporate philosophy?
Takeda’s corporate philosophy is built on a foundation of long-term value delivery. Our history, dating back to 1781, began with the sale of traditional Japanese and Chinese medicines in Japan, guided by the principle of Sanpo-Yoshi. This principle, meaning “good for the seller, good for the buyer, and good for society,” has been passed down through generations of CEOs for over 240 years.
Today, Takeda’s philosophy clarifies our purpose, vision, and values. The principles of patient, people, and planet guide us in making the necessary investments to fulfill our mission. We understand that we cannot achieve these goals alone. Therefore, Takeda seeks to collaborate with local stakeholders in Vietnam to bring these principles to life, ensuring that we continue to benefit both the country and its people.
How does Takeda’s global philosophy influence your commitment to patients, and how is it applied in Vietnam?
Takeda’s global philosophy is centered on delivering life-transforming treatments. We focus on patient-centered innovation, aligning our drug and vaccine development processes with patient needs.
In Vietnam, we tailor this approach to local healthcare challenges, such as improving access to therapies in rare diseases, oncology, neuroscience, plasma-derived therapies, and vaccines. For instance, the introduction of the dengue vaccine is part of our effort to combat vector-borne diseases exacerbated by climate change.
A key aspect of Takeda’s mission is ensuring healthcare access. We have implemented tiered pricing for our products, adjusting prices based on the country’s economic status and healthcare maturity.
Takeda places significant emphasis on its people. How does this philosophy shape your strategies for employee development and diversity in Vietnam?
At Takeda, we view our people as our greatest asset. Our corporate philosophy emphasizes a culture of life-long learning, diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I). Takeda employees live our values of integrity, fairness, honesty, and perseverance, with integrity being central to our culture.
The phrase “patient-trust-reputation-business” is particularly significant. It illustrates how we make decisions and underscores the ethical responsibility every employee has in impacting people’s lives—particularly their health.
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According to Benjamin, Takeda employees live their values of integrity, fairness, honesty, and perseverance, with integrity being central to the company’s culture. Photo courtesy of Takeda Vietnam |
How does Takeda approach sustainability, and how are these efforts adapted to the Vietnamese context?
Takeda is committed to environmental sustainability, aiming for net-zero greenhouse gas emissions in our operations by 2035 and across our entire value chain by 2040. We integrate environmental concerns into product development and operations, including through initiatives like the Sustainability by Design program.
In Vietnam, we are aligning our local strategies with these global goals, working to reduce our environmental footprint across the country. The dengue vaccine deployment is one example of how we’re addressing health issues linked to climate change. Additionally, Takeda’s office in Vietnam meets both LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) and WELL standards, supporting tenant health and sustainability.
What is Takeda’s digital transformation, and how do digital technologies enhance operations and patient engagement globally and in Vietnam?
Takeda is a leader in utilizing data, digital, and technology to drive innovation and improve patient outcomes. Our global initiatives include virtual clinical trials, AI-driven drug discovery, and digital patient support programs. These efforts aim to enhance accessibility and diversity in clinical research and optimize our operations.
In Vietnam, we are leveraging these technologies to enhance patient engagement. We are exploring digital tools to provide educational resources and personalized support, ensuring patients can effectively manage their health. We are also utilizing digital technologies to enhance employee productivity, enabling them to focus on more value-added work, ultimately benefiting patient care.
