LIKE many expatriates working and living in Malaysia, Malaysia Marine & Heavy Engineering Holdings Bhd (MHB) managing director and CEO Dominique de Soras is quick to reveal one of the obvious things he likes most about this country.

I like the food. There's a lot of variety. It's okay-lah, he says in a thick French accent.

However, the Frenchman just as quickly quantifies that statement: Of course, I won't say it's the best in the world.

Perhaps after French food, Malaysian food is the best in the world, he quips.

De Soras was appointed to the board of MHB on Feb 1, 2011 and has over 20 years of experience in the oil and gas (O&G) industry, covering areas of petroleum engineering, operations management, commercial and major projects in the oil and gas industry.

Still, he openly admits that joining MHB was not a walk in the park.

It's been a short period (since joining last here). This is my first experience in Malaysia working for a large O&G organisation like MHB.

So far, it's been interesting and challenging, says De Soras.

And challenging it has been. For its second quarter ended June 30, MHB's net profit fell to RM55.32mil from RM79.02mil a year ago despite revenue was up 0.8% to RM965.71mil from RM957.79mil. Earnings per share were 3.50 sen compared with 4.90 sen.

In the first half, its earnings fell 35.7% to RM133.58mil from RM207.93mil. Revenue slipped 13.3% to RM1.631bil from RM1.881bil.

Excerpt from:
Up Close & Personal with Dominique de Soras