we+ is glad to announce Mathilde Salvi’s new nomination as Country Director in Hong Kong. In this interview, Mathilde opens up about her career path, her vision for we+ in Hong Kong, and focuses on the innovative strategies to drive growth and success. She also delves into her leadership style and emphasizes the importance of cultivating strong, transparent relationships with stakeholders.

Can you tell us more about your professional journey, and what has led you to this position as Country Director in Hong Kong?

My experience began as a recruitment officer, and I then naturally transitioned into the role of business manager within a consulting firm specialized in supporting our clients on data projects. This initial experience allowed me to develop essential skills in project management, consulting, and team management.

I then held the position of account manager dedicated to major accounts within a startup that connected IT freelance experts with our clients. This role exposed me to the challenges of business development and the retention of our strategic partners.

I have always had the desire to expatriate and take on new international challenges. When the opportunity to join we+ as a senior business manager presented itself, I did not hesitate.

I am delighted to now hold the position of Country Director. None of this would have been possible without the unwavering support of the consultants, recruiters, and business managers who are always ready to help us. Their support and contributions are essential.

I am enthusiastic about taking on this new challenge at the head of a dynamic and talented team.

What are your main responsibilities as Country Director, and what will be your priorities in this new role?

I will focus on building a strong and engaged local team, which means that we need to recruit the best talents, train them, and motivate them so that they become true ambassadors of our brand. Their expertise, agility, and passion will be essential to meet the specific needs of our clients in Hong Kong.

At the same time, my priority is business development—identifying new opportunities in promising sectors and strengthening our visibility with key decision-makers. Our service offering, combined with the expertise of Alan Allman Associates, will be a major asset to differentiate ourselves in the local market.

We will also commit to forging strategic partnerships with influential players in the Hong Kong area. Whether with clients, suppliers, or institutions, these collaborations will allow us to increase our impact and visibility in the region.

Finally, I will ensure that our operations in Hong Kong are fully integrated into the overall strategy of the Alan Allman Associates ecosystem. I will foster close integration with our other locations, enabling synergies, skills transfers, and opportunities for international development.

Thanks to this combined local and global approach, I am convinced that we will be able to significantly evolve and grow our activities in Hong Kong in the years to come.

My goal will be to leverage the strengths of we+ and Alan Allman Associates to develop our presence in Hong Kong and make it a strategic hub within the Asia-Pacific region.

How do you plan to collaborate with local and international teams to achieve our goals in Hong Kong?

Essential set of values that I am committed to promoting within my team:

Transparency: This will be a fundamental element. We will listen to our interlocutors, showing honesty and openness in our exchanges. This will allow us to build the trust and credibility necessary for lasting partnerships.
Skills: We will systematically highlight our expertise and know-how. Our stakeholders must be confident that we are top-level professionals, capable of advising and supporting them with the greatest efficiency.
Human Dimension: I consider the human dimension to be just as crucial. We will listen to our interlocutors, be present to respond to their needs and concerns, and above all, be able to develop quality personal relationships.

It is by cultivating these values that we will be able to develop positive and lasting relationships with our stakeholders in Hong Kong. This will be essential to achieving our ambitious objectives in the region.

I am convinced that by placing the human element at the heart of our interactions, we will realize the success of our activities in Hong Kong.

Developing cross-selling and information sharing will be essential to grow our business in Hong Kong. We will be able to rely on the expertise of each firm within the Alan Allman Associates ecosystem to support us on the most specialized topics we may encounter.

I will focus on creating strong connections between our local teams and our counterparts in other countries. This will allow us to leverage best practices, specialized skills, and resources available across the group.

By promoting these exchanges and pooling our expertise, we will be able to offer an even more comprehensive and differentiated range of services to our clients in Hong Kong. This is a major lever to achieve our ambitious development goals in the region.

I will personally be involved in facilitating these inter-firm collaborations and ensuring that our local teams fully benefit from the ecosystem’s strong expertise. Together, we will successfully take on the challenges that await us.

What aspects of Hong Kong’s culture and market do you find most interesting, and how do you plan to incorporate them into your leadership strategy?

What particularly fascinates me about the culture and market of Hong Kong is its frenetic pace and its international, multicultural dimension. These are two aspects that I plan to fully integrate into my leadership strategy.

First, the hectic nature of the Hong Kong business environment is extremely stimulating to me. The team is already deeply ingrained in this culture. It requires great agility and flexibility to continuously adapt, but I am convinced that this is a major asset for remaining competitive.

Furthermore, the international and multicultural dimension is present both among companies and decision-makers, as well as within our firm. At Alan Allman Associates, we are accustomed to operating in global environments, but the unique nature of Hong Kong will require even greater adaptability on our part. I will ensure that my team is perfectly trained and prepared for this intercultural dimension.

I am confident that we will be able to develop an innovative and differentiating approach, perfectly adapted to the expectations of our clients in the region. This is an exciting challenge that I look forward to taking on with my team.