The Finalists

Yoshimasa Yamamoto was born in Niigata, Japan, in 1948.He graduated from university in 1970. He set up a new company "Sound Hokuetsu" after his two-year career as a salesclerk. Sound Hokuetsu sold audio-visuals. He gained 5 branches benefited from the robust Japanese economy. However, he was faced with the fact that audio-visual business field was reducing,  and so he determined to challenge the new business.

He decided to both buy and sell goods from consumers which are used, unnecessary items such as home electrical appliance, clothes in daily life. Reuse, this system is called. He is the first person who organized an idea about Reuse as a business model in Japan. Sound Hokuetsu was renamed to HARD OFF. A trend of concerns about environmental problem pushed the growth of HARD OFF quite steadily.  In September 2005, only 12 years after HARD OFF began, it has 520 stores in Japan and 2 in Korea. It is not too much to say that HARD OFF is the biggest company in Japan in the Reuse business.

HARD OFF is listed on the first section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange in March 2005.

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Ron Sim is the quintessential self-made man. His entrepreneurial spirit surfaced at the age of nine when he started selling noodles on the streets after school. Born to a large family, circumstances spurred him to earn his own pocket money, and he believes that hunger and despair pushed him into dreaming about creating and building something from nothing.

Mr Sim started his first business at the age of 20 in 1979; in 1980, he registered R. Sim Trading Co. to retail household products. Business was good until recession hit in the mid 80's. The company struggled through four years of deficit but persisted and survived. He then realized that, to be successful, he had to create his own products and branding.

This marked the evolution from Trader to Builder, and the beginnings of the OSIM brand. Mr Sim's vision was to create a brand to be the global leader in healthy lifestyle products, bringing healthy lifestyle to customers around the world. Under his leadership, OSIM has grown into an innovation-driven Intellectual Property developer, controlling its brands, designs, technologies and concepts.

OSIM International was publicly listed on the Singapore Exchange in July 2000, and, today, the Group operates a global point-of-sales network of over 700 OSIM outlets in 23 countries across Asia, Australia, Africa, the Middle East, United Kingdom and North America.

In recognition of his achievements, Mr Sim was voted Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year 2003, and Singapore Business Awards Businessman of the Year, 2003. Besides running OSIM Mr Sim is actively involved in government and industry committees:

•Chairman, Franchising & Licensing Association (Singapore)
• President of the Hong Kong-Singapore Business Association
• Singapore Business Federation (SME Committee)
• Investment Approval Committee of SPRING SEEDS, an initiative of SPRING Singapore
• DesignSingapore Council
• National University of Singapore Business School Advisory Board
• Board Member, Sentosa Development Corporation

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Majdi Abulaban is the Regional Director, Asia Pacific, Packard Electric Systems as well as Chairman of the Board, Delphi Packard Electric Systems Co., Ltd, a Sino-US venture in Shanghai, China. He is currently based in Shanghai and manages Delphi Packard operations located in Asia Pacific with presence in Japan, Korea, China, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, India & Australia supporting a diverse range of global and local automotive OEMs.

As a 20-year Delphi veteran, Majdi Abulaban began his Delphi career in 1985 as a manufacturing engineer in Packard's Warren, Ohio operations.

Mr. Abulaban has rich experience living and working in Asia. In 1993, he was named Finance Manager, Delphi Packard China. He was next appointed Managing Director, Delphi Packard Electric Shanghai in 1995. He moved to Singapore in 1997 as Managing Director, ASEAN and India Region. In January 2000, Majdi was named Director Asia Pacific Operations for Delphi Harrison Thermal before returning to North America as Business Line Executive Cockpits (Delphi Safety & Interior) in February 2001. In July 2002, Mr. Abulaban was appointed to be Regional Director, Asia Pacific, Packard Electric Systems as well as Chairman of the Board, Delphi Packard Electric Systems Co., Ltd.

Mr. Abulaban has received Shanghai's top expatriate award -- the "Magnolia Award" from the Shanghai Municipal Government in 2004, for his significant contributions to the city's economic and social development. He is the Vice Chairman of the Automotive Branch of the Shanghai Foreign Enterprise Association.

Mr. Abulaban is also involved in local charities, supporting the government's efforts to help disadvantaged children return to school.

Mr. Abulaban holds a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Pittsburgh and an MBA from Case Western Reserve University.

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Huang established Gome Home Appliance in a small store on Beijing Zhushikou Street on January 1st, 1987, and since then the business purpose of "small profits and good sales, service comes first".

In 1999, Huang extended Gome to Tianjin, and made the first step of a countrywide home appliance retail chain store.

In 2003, Gome Home Appliance opened a store in Hong Kong, which was the first step of an international home appliance retail chain store.

At present, Gome Home Appliance has 330 stores in 88 cities countrywide, which has made it top 1 in China home appliance retail stores.

Honors:
• In November 2004, Huang Guangyu was entitled the Star of Future International Entrepreneur during the election of the Greatest Potential to Become International Entrepreneur in the next 5-10 Years organized by Forum of China Brand Strategy 2004.
• In May 2005, Huang Guangyu was entitled Top 10 Entrepreneurs of Strategic Thinking of China MBAs' Choice during the election of Entrepreneurs of Strategic Thinking of China MBAs' Choice and Top 10 of Chinese MBA Heroes organized by the 6th MBA Development Forum.
• In June 2005, Huang Guangyu was entitled the Most Influential Professional CEO of China Enterprises during the Forum of Professional Managers of China and Foreign Enterprises 2005 held by the Chinese Association of Productivity Science), China Association of Science and Technology of Private Enterprises, Peking University and China Association of Professional Managers (Hong Kong).
• In July 2005, Huang Guangyu was elected Top 10 People in China Retail Business 2004-2005, which was held by national and local commercial administration, Shanghai Business Information Center, First Business Daily, CBN, China Retail Online and other retail authorities.

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