Ronnie Lim of OMS Group named EY Entrepreneur Of The Year 2024 Malaysia

Ronnie Lim of OMS Group was named the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year (EOY) 2024 Malaysia at an award ceremony hosted by EY earlier this evening. Lim was also named the winner of the Master Entrepreneur category. The 43-year-old group chief executive officer of OMS Group was selected from among 13 Top Nominees vying for the award.

Ronnie will represent Malaysia on the international stage in June 2025 to compete for the EY World Entrepreneur Of The Year (WEOY) 2025 award in Monte Carlo, Monaco.

OMS Group offers subsea cable installation services globally, and Ronnie's leadership has been pivotal to its success. He transformed the company from a modest family-run operation into a corporate powerhouse, attracting external talent and broadening its scope. Ronnie’s strategic vision included recognizing an opportunity in the submarine cable infrastructure sector, which led to securing contracts for system construction.

Under Ronnie's guidance, the company acquired its first barge in 2008, followed by its first cable ship in 2017. The fleet has since grown to include five cable ships, representing 12% of the global fleet, along with two barges and three tugboats. Today, OMS Group commands a formidable fleet and holds a significant share of the global market. The company is poised for continued expansion, with aggressive revenue goals and aspirations for increased market share.

Philip Rao, Partner, Ernst & Young Consulting Sdn. Bhd. and EOY Malaysia Programme Director said, “Ronnie has adeptly embodied 'The Art of Entrepreneurship,' significantly contributing to Malaysia's overarching digitalisation plan. At EY, we believe entrepreneurs are the moving force behind today’s economy. Every year, winners of the EOY programme go through rigorous judging criteria that look at entrepreneurial spirit, purpose, growth, and impact.

“This year, Ronnie stands out as a prime candidate in these categories, and we truly believe that it is his commitment to transforming the conventional that distinguishes him as an inspiring recipient of the EOY award,” he added.

Dato’ Abdul Rauf Rashid, Malaysia Managing Partner, Ernst & Young PLT said, “Our EOY initiative is an annual celebration that recognizes outstanding Malaysian entrepreneurs for their significant impact to the economy and the wider community. For over 20 years, EY has been organizing this event to champion the entrepreneurial spirit within Malaysia, aligning with the national agenda to nurture entrepreneurship and promote successful homegrown businesses.

“The extraordinary successes of the top nominees reflect the inventive spirit of entrepreneurship that our theme, "The Art of Entrepreneurship," celebrates. This theme salutes Seniman Agung Allahyarham Tan Sri P. Ramlee, whose artistic contributions were a mirror to the societal dialogues of his era.” he added.

In his address at the event, Minister of Finance II, Yang Berhormat Senator Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan said, “Strengthening the funding at all levels will unleash the potential of MSMEs to participate in the global supply chain, comply with the ESG requirements, capitalise technologies and digitalisation as well as retain critical talent.

“The future of Malaysia hinges on these bold innovators to lead with confidence and create a better working world for our economy, society, and country. It is essential to enhance our current initiatives, promote digital transformation, adopt advanced technologies, encourage collaborations between the public and private sectors, and support innovation by upskilling and preparing our future business leaders.”

EY also presented four other awards for entrepreneurial excellence to the following individuals:

► EY Emerging Entrepreneur Of The Year 2024 Malaysia – Tzong Lee and Zare Lee, Trapo Marketing Sdn. Bhd.

► EY Technology Entrepreneur Of The Year 2024 Malaysia – Jeand Pua, FrameMotion Studio Sdn. Bhd.

► EY Woman Entrepreneur Of The Year 2024 Malaysia – Datuk Ir. Chow Pui Hee, Samaiden Group Bhd.

► EY Master Entrepreneur Of The Year 2024 Malaysia – Ronnie Lim, OMS Group

The four recipients, as well as the overall country award recipient, were selected by an independent panel of judges guided by a set of global standard criteria. The EOY 2024 Malaysia panel of judges comprised the following individuals:

► Ms Low Ngai Yuen – Group Chief Merchandise and Marketing Officer, AEON (M) Berhad

► Dato’ Kamarul A Muhamed – Founder and Group CEO, Aerodyne Group

► Tan Sri Datuk Dr Rebecca Sta Maria – Executive Director, Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Secretariat

► Datuk Muhamad Umar Swift – CEO, Bursa Malaysia Bhd

► Dato' Hazimah Zainuddin – Founder and Group Managing Director, Hyrax Oil Sdn Bhd

► Mr Raymond Siva – Former Senior Vice President, Digital Investment, Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC)

► Dato’ Foong Wei Kuong – Founder and Group Managing Director, JF Technology Bhd

The EOY 2024 Malaysia programme is also proud to have these organisations join EY in support of entrepreneurship:

► BFM Media Sdn Bhd

► Bits and Pixels Sdn Bhd

► Bursa Malaysia

► Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC)

► Nanyang Siang Pau Sdn Bhd

► The Edge Malaysia and The Edge CEO Morning Brief

For more information about the EOY Malaysia programme, please visit www.ey.com/my/eoy

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About EY Entrepreneur Of The Year™

EY Entrepreneur Of The Year™ is the only global program of its kind that supports entrepreneurs as they unlock their ambitions. Established in 1986, this flagship program operates across more than 60 countries and jurisdictions and boasts a global ecosystem of over 30,000 distinguished entrepreneurs. Program participants benefit from lifelong connections, learning resources and insights to help navigate their growth journey, and opportunities to raise the profile of their companies. Each program concludes with a competition and announcement of a winner who goes on to represent their country or region in the ultimate global competition and event for entrepreneurs: EY World Entrepreneur Of The Year™. ey.com/eoy

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