Vientiane, October 30th, 2020 – To kickstart one of Lao’s busiest Buddhist festivals, the AVR Laos team geared up to help the local community. The team focused on cleaning an area designated area for the children’s circus in the famous Vientiane’s Night Market area.
AVR Laos Protects the Environment
Lyn, born in Malaysia, educated in Canada, and currently based in Thailand, boasts an illustrious career spanning nearly three decades with a top global bank, with her last posting being the President & CEO of Thailand and Greater Mekong, covering Cambodia, Myanmar, Laos and Vietnam.
In late 2020, in addition to being an advisor to several family owned businesses, she pursued her entrepreneurial passion, aiming to make a difference in financially underserved communities. Having resided in six global cities, Lyn’s banking career expanded across ten countries in both North America and Asia. In 2012, Bloomberg recognized her as the International CEO of the Year in Thailand for leading a prominent financial institution and her roles as the Global Ambassador for Living with HIV and a member of the Global Diversity & Inclusion council.
Driven by a strong belief in doing more for the underserved segment, where up to two-thirds lack formal financial system access and face unscrupulous lending practices, Lyn embarked on establishing Mula-X, a fintech in Thailand. Mula-X
focuses on providing access to financial services to its low-income salaried user base through its platform and two owned and managed products: earned wage access and salary to wallet. Lyn, a staunch advocate of lifelong learning and
knowledge as a catalyst for financial freedom, operates Mula-X financial services platform alongside a comprehensive learning portal focused on financial literacy, wellness, self-improvement, and parenting knowledge.
RMA is committed to conducting business in a lawful and responsible manner subject to our values of integrity. Each employee is expected to perform their responsibilities with uncompromising honesty, integrity and in accordance with those laws regulations and the Group’s policies and procedures stated in the Group’s Code of Conduct and Compliance Manual.
In addition to better understanding and adhering to the policies, procedures and values, all employees must participate in a mandatory Code of Conduct and Compliance e-Training. Employees without Group email access are trained offline.
In order to fulfill the commitment, a Group Compliance Office was established and is available to all employees customers and suppliers via email, post and telephone. A dedicated Group Compliance Manager is responsible for the implementation of the Compliance Program as well as monitoring and managing any compliance issues and internal compliance controls.
In addition, a Speak Up culture is encouraged. When employees, customers or suppliers become aware of any situation that violates or appears to violate laws, regulations, or Group policies, they are encouraged to discuss such matters with the Supervisor and Group Compliance Manager. In a country where anonymous reporting is allowed, reporting via the Group’s Whistleblower Hotline is also available. The Group will not tolerate retaliation to any individual for raising a concern or making a report in good faith. For more compliance-related issues or concerns, the Compliance Office can be reached via the following contact details:
RMA Group Compliance Office
| 150 TPlace Building, 15 Fl., Soi Sukhumvit 55 (Thonglor), Sukhumvit Road, Klongton Nue, Watthana, Bangkok 10110 Thailand | |
| compliance@rmagroup.net | |
| +66 (2) 762 8585 |
Alan Caugant is the Managing Director Global Modifications. He has responsibility for RMA Group’s modification businesses in Thailand, Dubai, South Africa, Cambodia, Myanmar and Minecorp, in Australia.
Alan is an experienced global automotive leader. He has worked for Volvo Group from 2004-2017, holding increasingly senior roles in China, South Africa, Panama, Argentina, Brazil and Indonesia. More recently, Alan worked with Nissan-Renault until 2021, where he held the position of Senior Vice President with responsibility for ASEAN.
During Covid, he was running his own consulting business in his home country France.
As Global Technical Director of RMA Group, Peter Lawson is responsible for Global Technical Operations and overall profit and loss performance of RMA Automotive in Thailand, South Africa, Turkey and Minecorp Australia. Peter began working with RMA in 2014 as Country General Manager of South Africa. He brings with him 37 years of experience in the automotive industry, having run several large plants and as Vice President of Manufacturing and Operations for Ford Motor Company. He has developed extensive knowledge in manufacturing engineering, production, program launch and manufacturing business. Peter also has in-depth experience in lean manufacturing from his time as global Director of Ford Motor Company’s Lean Manufacturing System (Ford Production System). He has a proven track record of delivering transformational change, leading to major quality and cost improvement.
Kevin Whitcraft is the Chief Executive Officer of RMA Group, the company he founded in Thailand with his father and brother over thirty-five years ago. Today RMA Group operates in 14 countries across multiple industries, employing over 8,500 people globally.
In the early 1990s RMA set up the first commercial shipping service between Thailand and Cambodia and formed RMA Cambodia which has become the largest vehicle and equipment distribution, sales and service operator in the country. RMA Group expanded rapidly across Southeast Asia partnering with multinational brands across multiple industries, including automotive, infrastructure, financial services, engineering and food services. Currently operations are located in Laos, Myanmar, Indonesia, Singapore, UAE, Turkey, South Africa, Australia and the US.
Kevin has been instrumental in the expansion of the business and he is an influential figure in the industrial, equipment, and distribution sectors in Southeast Asia.
Prior to founding RMA Group, Kevin was the Regional Sales Manager for Rochester Midland Corporation. He is a graduate of both the American University in Washington and Harvard Business School. Kevin is an avid sailor and is the President of the Phuket King’s Cup Regatta Organizing Committee.
Chris Manley has been appointed as CEO of Ford Global Fleet Sales in 2023. He is an experienced operations manager with a demonstrated history of delivering exceptional value to shareholders, partners and customers while also leading the relationship management with RMA’s OE manufacturing partners notably Ford, JLR, Mahindra and John Deere.
Chris has been RMA Group’s Chief Operating Officer since 2018 overseeing Automotive Purchasing and Trading, RMA Myanmar, RMA Indonesia, and RMA Group Power. Prior to this appointment, Chris was the Country Manager for RMA Myanmar and Managing Director of Capital Automotive – retail distributors for Ford, JLR and John Deere. Chris joined RMA Group in 2009 as Head of Business Development based in Bangkok and became Country Manager for RMA Lao in 2011, the position he held until moving to RMA Myanmar in 2015.
Chris founded the Committee for the American Chamber of Commerce in Laos and is currently a board member of the American Chamber of Commerce Myanmar. Prior to joining RMA, he worked in various operational and management roles for Accenture, Johnson & Johnson and DFDL. Chris completed his Engineering undergraduate degree at North Carolina State University and his MBA and a Juris Doctor at the University of North Carolina.
Brendan Londt is a qualified Mechanical Engineering and is also completing an Executive MBA through Henley Business School. Brendan has extensive experience in Sales, Manufacturing and General Management within the automotive industry which he has attained through his experience in different companies like Ford, Barloworld Agriculture, Toyota Forklift & 600SA Holdings.
Max Talcott manages governmental and commercial relations with the aim of maximizing the benefits to all RMA businesses in Myanmar, in addition to leveraging synergies between the various RMA businesses. Max has been based in Myanmar since 2012, holding the positions of Director and Managing Director for Four Rivers and Bower Group Asia, whilst also serving as a Vice-President of the American Chamber of Commerce in Yangon, Myanmar. In his current role, he bears on the ground responsibilities for RMA Myanmar’s Finance, IT and Human Resources departments and also directly oversees AVIS.
Max holds a Bachelor of Science from Cornell University, and currently resides in Yangon. Max is also a lover of scuba diving.
Burak Demirtas joined RMA Group in 2011, bringing with him invaluable experience in the construction materials industry. He holds an MBA in Finance & Accounting from Yeditepe University, Istanbul, and an MSc in International Management from the University of Sussex. In 2012 Burak was appointed Country Manager RMA Otomotiv in Turkey and in 2016 he also became Country Manager for RMA Kazakhstan. In June 2018, he relocated to Myanmar as Managing Director for Capital Automotive overseeing the Ford, JLR and John Deere divisions. Burak currently is the CEO of RMAltinay, RMA’s fast expanding automotive modification business in Turkey.
Executive Director Clipper Board Holdings Limited
Kevin Whitcraft is an influential figure in the automotive, equipment, and distribution sectors in Southeast Asia. In the early 1990’s he expanded RMA Group beyond Thailand and established RMA Cambodia which grew to become the largest automotive, agricultural and industrial equipment distribution, sales and service business in the country.
Under Kevin’s leadership RMA’s vehicle modification and parts distribution and fleet operations grew rapidly in the 2000’s. RMA established itself as a top ten supplier to the US Army’s TACOM, delivering over 43,000 modified vehicles to the Afghan National Security Forces.
Kevin took RMA’s manufacturing facilities beyond Thailand to Turkey, Indonesia, Myanmar, South Africa, Australia and Dubai. To date RMA has delivered over 300,000 vehicles globally, including the fulfilment of long-term contracts with the United Nations, NGO’s and Governments.
Ford Global Fleet Sales headquartered in the US, cemented itself as Ford’s Global Export Distributor. It has access to nearly Ford’s entire product line and access to over 100 markets.
Kevin has been instrumental in expanding the business to include engineering operations (Comin Asia), heavy and agricultural equipment distribution, food franchising of well known international food brands and food delivery (Express Food Group), and financial services (Bank South Pacific and DEVCO).
Kevin is a graduate of the American University in Washington and Harvard Business School.
Christian Wiedmann joined RMA Group as Senior Vice President RMA Group and Managing Director Automotive in 2023. He supports the overall management of the Group and consolidates all automotive related activities (outside of Cambodia) under one leadership.
Christian Wiedmann is an automotive and finance professional who started his career with AIG Private Banking and PwC in Switzerland, before joining the BMW Group in Germany in 2001. At BMW Group, he served various senior management functions within the Corporate, Financial Services and BMW Automotive Divisions, largely as COO, CFO and CEO of BMW legal entities in many regions across the globe, including Germany, Japan, Austria, Greece, South Korea, Australia and Thailand.
Christian is an MBA graduate from the University of Fribourg, Switzerland.
Ngorn Saing has been CEO of RMA Cambodia since December, 2014. Saing joined RMA Cambodia as an intern in 1996 and progressed rapidly through the organization thereafter, holding senior positions in accounting and finance. Saing was appointed Deputy Country Manager and CFO of RMA Cambodia in 2007. Saing has helped grow the business and supported its diversification from a primarily Automotive and Power Generation business, into serving the needs of customers in Cambodia. Saing is a graduate of the Royal University of Law and Economics in Phnom Penh, with a degree in Economics and an MBA in International Business, from the Asian Institute of Technology, Thailand. He was also the first Cambodian national to attend the Harvard Business School General Management Program.
Trevor Negus is the General Manager of RMA Automotive Holdings, Australia. Trevor joined RMA Group in January 2022 and has been instrumental in setting up the new business based in Melbourne. Trevor has had an impressive career with Ford Motor Company based in Australia, Southampton (UK), Nanjing (China) and Thailand, where he led the establishment of the Ford Thailand Manufacturing Plant and was appointed President of Auto Alliance Thailand (AAT). Most recently, Trevor has been working with MaxiTRANS Industries, a producer of vehicle trailers, as as Group General Manager Manufacturing, based in Victoria.
Ivan Keogh is the CEO for Comin Asia since 2022. Ivan is an Irish national and holds a BE (Civil) from University College Dublin. Spending the last 24 years in Asia and the Middle East, Ivan most recently worked for one of the world’s leading engineering, design, and architecture consultancies, Ove Arup & Partners, based in Vietnam, heading its infrastructure practice for East Asia.
Before Ove Arup, he was Executive Director with Arcadis Asia, SVP & Managing Director for Asia Operations for Louis Berger, Regional Manager, India & Bhutan for SMEC International, and held several roles at Royal Haskoning (including a period in Cambodia).
Ivan is based in Cambodia at the Comin Asia Head Office in Phnom Penh.
Chris Cracknell was elected as a non-executive director of Clipper Holdings Limited in 2018 and subsequently Chair of the audit committee and a member of the remuneration committee.
Throughout his 44 year plus career, Chris has been pioneering successful new businesses globally within the B2B services field. He is currently Chair of Grant Thornton Thailand and Chair of the British Chamber of Commerce Thailand. He also has his own consultancy company advising international businesses such as Mentisglobal and the Absotherm Group.
Chris joined Clipper Holdings Limited from OCS Group Limited where he was CEO for 19 years. In 2015 OCS was awarded the Queen’s Award for Enterprise in International Trade in recognition of its strong overseas performance under his leadership.
Michael Unsworth currently holds a number of executive positions including Director of Clipper Holdings, dwp Cityspace, and Adria Azija d.o.o. He has held instrumental roles in the research field and possesses high expertise of the Asia Pacific market. Michael was the Chief Executive Officer of Merrill Lynch Phatra Securities, the largest investment bank in Thailand, from 1998 until the end of 2000. Prior to that, he was monumental in growing Merrill Lynch’s presence in the region as the Regional Head of Research of Merrill Lynch Asia Pacific.
Before relocating to the Asia Pacific market, Michael held managing positions in Europe where he worked as the Managing Director of European Investment banking in 1994. In 1988, Michael was appointed Head of the UK Research Department, helping grow the department’s reputation as one of UK’s best. As a graduate of St. John’s College, Southsea and Middlesex University, Michael gained invaluable insights in the field of research and energy when he was made a partner of Scott Goff Hancock & Co. in 1981, when the company became an official member of the London Stock Exchange.
Hogi Patrick Hyun is the founder and director of Abacus Capital Group, an Asian fund management group he established in 1995. Under Hogi’s leadership, the company expanded into Singapore, Jakarta and Bangkok operating across three divisions: investments, asset management and advisory. He helped Abacus Capital Group advance towards managing strategic investment portfolios for corporate investors and business families in 2000, and the company started its lifestyle investment portfolios in 2003.
Prior to founding Abacus Capital Group, Hogi held leading roles with Bankers Trust Company (now Deutsche Bank) for over seven years. He began as an associate and was soon appointed as the company’s Vice President of Equity Derivatives Group in London in 1989. Hogi continued to lead in executive roles with Bankers Trust Company, moving from London to Hong Kong and later Singapore. He graduated Magna Cum Laude from Yale University in 1985.
Peter is a global automotive business leader with thirty years of diverse experience gained with the Ford Motor Company in both developed and emerging international markets. After retiring from Ford in 2019, he is currently engaged in a portfolio of non-executive and advisory roles.
Peter joined the Clipper Board in 2020 and now also advises our CEO on automotive business development opportunities.
Rising to be a group vice president, one of the most senior executives at Ford, Peter was the “go to†leader to attack some of the most complex business problems around the world.
Based for twelve years overseas from his native United Kingdom (in Germany, Thailand and China), Peter most recently served in Shanghai as President of Ford Asia Pacific with full P&L responsibility for all of Ford’s businesses and partnerships across Greater China (including Lincoln Motor Company), India, Southeast Asia, Australia and New Zealand.
Peter is a passionate advocate of former Ford CEO Alan Mullaly’s successful “working together†principles, practices and management system.
Peter also serves as chairman of the Retail Automotive Alliance Ltd (UK), chairman of Advanced Electric Machines Ltd (UK), external advisor to Bain & Company and non-executive director and advisor to the CEO at Winner Imports Ukraine Ltd.
Thomas Whitcraft holds multiple directorships at RMA Group, and is one of the original founders of RM Asia (H.K.) Limited in 1985. He was born in Bangkok in 1962, and is a graduate of the International School of Bangkok (1980). He holds a BA Business Administration from Southampton College, University of Long Island, New York.
Thomas held the position of Treasurer of the Indochina Media Memorial Fund (IMMF) from 2001-2003. An enthusiastic sailor, Thomas is Vice Commodore of the Royal Varuna Yacht Club and a Member of Rotary Club of Bangkok South.
Steve Golsby, recognized by the Thai Prime Minister in 2011 for his contributions to the country’s industrial and economic development, has been influential in the growth and success of a number of multinational companies, with a focus on the Asian region. As a current Honorary Investment Advisor to the Thailand Board of Investment and an Advisor to the Thai Union Group of Companies, Steve also serves as a Director of Beam Inc (NYSE) in America and of Masan Consumer, a leading food company in Vietnam.
In 2004, Steve served as President of Mead Johnson Nutrition, a global leader in nutritional products with a US$16 billion approximate market value. He later held the position of Chief Executive Officer in 2008, during which he monumentally transformed the company from a US-focused healthcare business to a high-performance global consumer products business. He retired as CEO in April 2013 and remains a member of the Board of Directors. Steve holds a business degree from the University of Strathclyde.
Harjeet is the CFO of RMA Group and provides comprehensive support to the Group’s multitude of diverse companies and business units. Harjeet has extensive multinational business experience ranging from technical accounting to investor relations, mergers & acquisitions and strategy, through to business start-up, performance turn-around and joint venture management. He spent two decades of his career in various roles with Tesco Group, in the UK, India, Hong Kong, Japan and Thailand. Most recently Harjeet was CFO at OCS Group based in Bangkok before joining RMA Group in 2020.
Hisham heads up the Dubai Modification Center, RMA Automotive’s newest manufacturing and distribution facility in Dubai’s Jebel Ali Free Zone. Hisham, a Turkish national, has worked his entire professional career in the UAE and has a wealth of vehicle manufacturing experience. Prior to joining RMA, Hisham spent over 14 years with a group of companies that are market leaders in fire protection, health & safety and security systems as well as fire-fighting equipment. During this time he was responsible for sales and marketing, design, production, supply chain, quality, after-sales and customer service. Hisham has exceptional and long standing relations with numerous global automotive OEMs.
Hisham completed his MBA through Cardiff Metropolitan University in 2019.
Tom Whitcraft holds multiple directorships at RMA Group, and is one of the original founders of RM Asia (H.K.) Limited in 1985. He was born in Bangkok in 1962, and is a graduate of the International School of Bangkok (1980). He holds a BA Business Administration from Southampton College, University of Long Island, New York.
Tom held the position of Treasurer of the Indochina Media Memorial Fund (IMMF) from 2001-2003. An enthusiastic sailor, Tom is Vice Commodore of the Royal Varuna Yacht Club and a Member of Rotary Club of Bangkok South.
Sam oversees RMA Group’s Finance and IT functions.
Prior to joining RMA Group, he held various positions in Singapore as Group Chief Financial Officer of the Interflour Group (a leading Southeast Asian food ingredients manufacturer), Executive Director and Head of Global Diversified Industries for ANZ Bank, and Director, Commodity Traders & Agribusiness at Standard Chartered Bank.
Before relocating to Asia in 2006, he worked in the oilfield services sector with Schlumberger Ltd where he held various senior finance positions across Europe, the United States and Africa.
Sam holds a Master of Business Administration from INSEAD where he was awarded the Henry Ford Prize in 2006. In his spare time he enjoys scuba diving (as a qualified PADI dive instructor), motorcycling, and keeping abreast of the latest technology innovations.
Angus joined Minecorp as Research & Development Manager in 2011, following an extensive eleven year career in product development, engineering, manufacturing and management in the automotive industry. He took on the role of Operations Manager after RMA Group’s acquisition of Minecorp in 2013, and has been General Manager since 2015. Angus has been instrumental in the growth and diversification of the business ever since.
Martin joined RMA Group in 2019 as Managing Director of EFG Holdings. He is responsible for the EFG business in Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, plus Palms Airport F&B Singapore. Martin, a UK National, is an accomplished global leader with a wealth of experience in the hospitality and retail industry. His extensive career in leadership positions with industry giants such as Starbucks Coffee, Marks and Spencer, Whitbread and Vodafone, has taken him across the globe. Prior to joining RMA Group, Martin was the CEO of Niso Corporation, Vietnam and Celebrity Fitness, Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore.
Carol Grakul is a Sales and Marketing professional with an accomplished career spanning over 30 years, and has a track record for delivering and sustaining results in the highly competitive auto industry. She has been with RMA Group heading up Ford Global Fleet Sales based in Michigan, US for over a decade. Her career at Ford Motor Company has been in various divisions and positions, such as Southeast Asia District Manager for Worldwide Direct Markets, Fleet Marketing Manager for Export Operations, and Fleet Sales Representative at Ford Division.
JB is the Vice President of Airport Businesses in Cambodia, Singapore and Myanmar, and is responsible for leading Express Food Group’s new brand development. JB joined RMA Group in 2003 as Country Manager Cambodia. During that time he was appointed president of the French-Cambodian Chamber of Commerce and Foreign Trade Advisor to the French Embassy. He subsequently went on to lead new operations in Vietnam for RMA before relocating to Bangkok to head the Hospitality Division. JB was educated in French business and management at EDC Paris Business School, under the patronage of HEC Entrepreneurs; he speaks French, English, German, Cambodian and Thai. JB is a certified coach and part of his portfolio is supporting and coaching members of the leadership team across RMA Group.
Joining RMA Group in August 2013, Stuart Daniels brought with him a wealth of expertize in Human Resources and applied it to his business objectives. He spent the majority of his career prior to RMA with Ford Motor Company and has undertaken assignments and postings in the US, UK, Germany, China, India and Southeast Asia. Originally from the UK, Stuart is a graduate of the University of Swansea, UK and the H.R. Institute of Personnel and Development Management at The University of Glamorgan.
Simon Hirst was appointed Country Manager Laos in October 2016. Simon brings a wealth of RMA and external experience to the role. He joined RMA in July 2010 after an extensive career in the Oil and Gas business. A UK national, Simon has worked extensively overseas in the UK, Thailand, US, Denmark and Korea. Simon graduated from Reading University, UK with a BA (Hons) in History & International Relations.
Since joining RMA Group in 2019 Pinaki has led the launch of Mahindra brand in Indonesia and the Ford fleet sales business while continuing to manage the existing automotive services business. Pinaki has over three decades of experience that includes a stint of fifteen years with General Motors and was based in India, Thailand and China. Prior to joining RMA Group he was the Regional General Manager for Minor International for South Asia and the Indian Ocean.
Michael Freeman joined Comin Asia in July 2016 as Regional Business Development Division Manager before assuming the role of Vice President – Contracting based in Cambodia. He brings with him over ten years’ of cross-sector work experience gained in the Middle East in executive roles in the construction sector. In his current role, Michael maintains full responsibility for overall Comin Asia contracting operations across its regional operations in Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar.
BSP commences operations as BSP Finance Cambodia in a joint venture with RMA Financial Services.
RMA Cambodia appointed authorized distributor for Hako.
EFG Cambodia opens five outlets in the new AEON Mall Sen Sok City, Phnom Penh.
RMA host multiple humanitarian agencies at the first Driver Recognition Program Finals 2018 in Southeast Asia.
Lao Land Rover receives APIO Retailer of the Year Award.
EFG Recognized with Three Distinguished Awards from Minor Food Group.
RMA Group in conjunction with Capital Automotive opened the first Ford Assembly Plant in Yangon, Myanmar. Capital Manufacturing Limited produces the Ford Ranger and Ford Everest exclusively for the Myanmar market.
EFG launches Bar B Q Plaza franchise in Cambodia with the first restaurant opening in Aeon Mall, Phnom Penh.
RMA is appointed as Authorized Ford Distributor for Service and Genuine Parts in Indonesia and sets up a network of service centers to provide services, parts, emergency roadside assistance and full warranty repair for Ford vehicles.
RMA delivers the first orders of the Rantis Armored Assault Vehicle to the Indonesian Mobile Brigade Corps.
RMA launches its new vision to be the partner of choice for leading automotive, equipment, services and food brands in Southeast Asia and beyond.
Krispy Kreme becomes the latest addition to the Hospitality Division.
JLG is added to the Infrastructure Division.
RMA reaffirms its expertise in modifications by being appointed as an Approved Converter for Nissan.
RMA Kenya achieves Superbrand status, a prestigious accreditation awarded by the world’s largest independent arbiter of branding.
RMA City Motors opens its flagship Ford and Jaguar Land Rover dealerships on Rama 4 Road, Bangkok.
RMA Group celebrates its 30th anniversary on 17th December.
RMA acquires Minecorp of Australia, one of the world’s leaders in fleet vehicle modification.
RMA purchases Urban Solutions, offering a full array of urban development and revitalization services in housing and urban infrastructure.
EFG adds Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Cambodia to its portfolio, well-known hotels and restaurants in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap.
The Automotive Division adds Avis car rental to its portfolio in Cambodia and Laos.
RMA Kenya is established and becomes the sole distributor for Jaguar Land Rover in Kenya.
RMA City Motors opens an all-new 3S Ford dealership and service center in Bangkok.
 Manufacturing operations expand to Turkey with the formation of a modification center in Istanbul.
RMA acquires the Comin Group of Companies in Southeast Asia and adds Engineering Services and Facilities Management to its operations.
Afghan National Security Forces receive their 30,000th vehicle from RMA since the contract was first awarded by the US Army in 2004.
Himoinsa is added to Infrastructure Division.
Guava International expands to cover all Sub-Saharan markets in Africa.
A representative office also opens in China.
RMA is appointed as the only Approved Vehicle Modifier (AVM) in the commercial sector.
More popular food brands join EFG with the addition of Dairy Queen and BBQ Chicken.
The Infrastructure Division expands with the addition of John Deere, TCM and Mitsubishi Fuso.
RMA wins the United Nations Department of Peacekeeping Operations (UNDPKO) and the Afghanistan Technical Equipment Maintenance Program (ATEMP) contracts.
RMA achieves ISO 9001 certification, a testament to the quality management systems in place.
Manufacturing and, most notably, mine site vehicle capacity expands with a new modification facility in Indonesia (GFSI).
RMA opens a representative office in Turkey to manage contracts for Ford.
RMA purchases Guava International to manage the Jaguar Land Rover dealership network, covering 28 markets worldwide.
RMA’s production capacity increases with the addition of a new manufacturing facility in South Africa. More brands join the Automotive and Infrastructure Divisions including General Motors, Mazda, Tata and JCB.
EFG adds Swensen’s to its portolio.
RMA launches the Hospitality division with the formation of Express Food Group in Cambodia.
Ford certifies RMA as a global distributor to the Aid & Development sector in recognition of its expertise in automotive distribution.
RMAA is awarded the US Army TACOM contract for the supply of modified Ford vehicles to the Afghan National Security Forces. The total order will see more than 40,000 modified vehicles delivered to Afghanistan.
With partner brands John Deere, JCB and JLG, RMA can facilitate solutions in construction, road building, maintenance and commercial enterprises. Issues can be resolved within utilities, agriculture, mining, construction, telecommunication, exploration, oil & gas, rail & airport maintenance.
RMA places a high value on the long-term strategic relationships with its global brands. Ford, Mazda, Toyota, Fuso, Chevrolet, John Deere, JCB, Himoinsa, Kohler and SDMO stand as examples of that value and shared belief in quality. The same holds true with the value placed on partnerships built with governments, NGOs and the UN, and clients from the Mining, and Oil & Gas Sectors. RMA enters a client relationship with an eye on a long-term association. This level of partnership drives RMA logistics professionals to work side-by-side with clients to create the most cost-efficient routes and ensure a flawless delivery, to even the most remote location.
RMA’s 90,000m2Â automotive center in Laem Chabang, Thailand, excels in engineering, design, assembly and distribution, and is strategically located for fast response to urgent needs in challenging markets.
Maintenance is at the core of RMA’s quality program services, maximizing the lifecycles of vehicles, heavy equipment and power generators. An RMA Services Contract offers complete start-to-finish servicing.
RMA has a global network of efficient people and processes that truly differentiate it from others. RMA standards of quality ensure that Aid & Development, Government, NGO, Commercial and Peacekeeping Mission fleets in post-conflict markets operate at maximum efficiency.
RMA provides its clients with the world’s best brands of vehicles and modified vehicles that are purpose-built and field-ready for the most difficult locations.
RMA’s inventory of heavy equipment and power generators presents customers with a selection of global brands famed for their high standards of quality and value – John Deere, JCB, Himoinsa, SDMO and Kohler.
RMA has ISO 9001:2008 and 9001:2015 certification and also meets the rigorous standards of Bureau Veritas. It also complies with the stringent quality guidelines of Ford Motor Company and has become the only participant in its Qualified Vehicle Modifier (QVM) program in Southeast Asia. This recognition ensures that each modified vehicle has been designed, built and tested to meet the highest levels of reliability, endurance and utility. RMA has received certification as an original OEM parts and service supplier for many of the world’s leading brands of trucks, heavy equipment and power generators.
Comin Asia along with its partner, OCS International, provide the most comprehensive Total Facility Management solutions available. TFM encompasses everything needed to provide services for living and working environments. Comin Asia teams aggregate a range of specialized services into a single service package, to ensure a facility is maintained and improved in a sustainable, environmentally stable manner. These services include overall environmental services of pest management, cleaning, hygiene, and gardening.
RMA and its subsidiary, Comin Asia, design, supply, install and maintain systems and subsystems in public and private infrastructure projects. Comin Asia enjoys a superior reputation recognized by the most demanding local and international project developers, property owners and utilities in these core construction engineering sectors in Energy & Electricity, HVAC, Air-Conditioning and Ventilation systems and Water & Fluids management. Comin teams expertly design, procure, install, test and commission all M&E equipment and ultimately recommend customized energy management programs that maximize a facility’s energy efficiency. As a solutions integrator, RMA brand procurement strategies are aimed at providing the best quality equipment at the best possible price.
RMA has earned a reputation as the fleet manager’s provider-of-choice for purpose-built vehicles and fleets. High quality standards have earned RMA accreditation as the only Qualified Vehicle Modifier (QVM) for Ford Motor Company in Southeast Asia. In order to be responsive to customers’ emergency requirements, RMA maintains an ex-stock inventory of non-modified vehicles ready for shipment anywhere in the world within 48 hours, and has $16 million of parts and accessories in stock for quick turnaround.
Mark Tennant is a UK national who graduated with a BA (Hons) from Trinity College, Oxford. After a nine year career at Bentley Motors, working in both Singapore and the UK, holding positions such as Managing Director Asia Pacific, Director of Product Strategy, and Marketing Director, Mark joined RMA Group in February 2009 as Vice President of Automotive Sales & Marketing. In September 2013, Mark became CEO of Guava International, and is currently focused on general business development in RMA’s automotive sectors.
Fawad Ahmadi joined RMA Group in 2009 as Business Executive Director for CIS Countries following 15 years of experience on diplomatic missions and with international organizations. He was appointed General Director for RMA Group Kazakhstan and Caspian Motors Kazakhstan, where he launched the JLR and Ford businesses in the country. He is currently Country Manager for RMA Group Afghanistan and RMA (Middle-East).
Sanpong Chuenroi has been with RMA since July 2001 and has in-depth knowledge of the Thai automobile dealership business from his 15 years of working in the industry. His expertise includes vehicle financing, insurance solutions, sales, parts business, body workshop and after-sales services. A Thai national, Sanpong holds an MSc from George Washington University and a Ph.D. in Economics from The National Institute of Development Administration, Bangkok.
Arnaud Bigare was appointed Acting Chief Executive Officer for the Comin Group, in July 2016. He also continues to serve in the capacity of Chief Financial Officer to Comin Khmere and Comin Asia. Arnaud has a Masters degree in Finance & Business Administration and over 15 years’ experience in Finance and General Management. He worked with ATOS and Air France Group prior to joining Comin Asia in 2013.
As Country Manager South Africa, Willem Oliver oversees new business development, budgeting, overall profit and loss performance, customer relationship management, and manufacturing. He joined RMA in 2014 after 25 years of working in the automotive industry as a Tier 1 supplier to various OEMs in South Africa.
Australian national Brennan Coleman joined RMA in April 2014 as General Counsel. Graduating with distinction from the College of Law, New South Wales, Brennan practiced corporate law in Australia, UK, Cambodia and Laos with a number of reputable legal firms. Prior to joining, he was the Managing Director of the DFDL Legal & Tax Group based in Laos.
Dan McNally joined RMA Group as Country Manager, Indonesia in May 2008. From October 2013 to July 2015, he was Managing Director of Minecorp. He then assumed the position of Global Modification Sales Director, where he was responsible for the global sales efforts of RMA Automotive’s vehicle modification businesses based in the Group Office in Bangkok. During 2016, Dan was instrumental in securing and setting up the Ford Authorized Service and Parts Distribution business in Indonesia and returned to Jakarta as Country Manager, Indonesia.
RMA acquires Palms Food International, the long standing food franchisor at Changi Airport, Singapore.
Costa Coffee joins the Hospitality Division.
RMA Myanmar is established in Yangon to provide Automotive, Infrastructure, Engineering and after-sales operations to serve the retail and commercial needs of Myanmar and its people.
 RMA’s environmental management systems achieves ISO 14001 certification.
RMA extends its Ford Qualified Vehicle Modifier (QVM) program to the South African and Indonesian facilities.
RMA commences operations in Kazakhstan as Caspian Motors with Ford and Jaguar Land Rover dealerships.
RMA grows rapidly to encompass four new divisions: Automotive, Power and Construction, Engineering and Trading & Logistics.
Global brands join RMA’s network of operations, including Ford and SDMO.
Operations are set up in Central Asia and further expansion follows to five other regions, including the USA.
The Automotive division adds Global Fleet Sales (GFS) to provide fleet solutions to developing markets and the humanitarian aid sector.
RMA’s flagship Assembly and Distribution Center opens in a Free Zone at Thailand’s Deep Sea Port of Laem Chabang, covering a vast area of 90,000m2.
RMA becomes Ford’s only Qualified Vehicle Modifier (QVM) in Asia Pacific and Africa, providing quality modifications which are supported by the manufacturer’s full vehicle warranty.
RMA establishes Global Armor Thailand (GAT) and adds armored vehicle modifications to its services.
The US Army recognizes the quality of RMA’s work by awarding it the Equipment Maintenance and Apprenticeship Service Program (EMAS) for work completed in Afghanistan.
The Hospitality Division is boosted with the addition of The Pizza Company, and Kohler is added to the Infrastructure Division.
RMA is established when specialty chemical producer Rochester Midland expands to Asia and Rochester Midland Asia, with its regional operations based Bangkok, is formed.
As a trading company, business is focused on the Mekong region.
Managed out of its purpose built 90,000 m2 manufacturing, assembly and distribution center in Laem Chabang, Thailand, RMA Parts & Service division is a fully dedicated unit focused on keeping customer projects fully operational. Its systems feature fast turnaround deployment of parts, vehicles, and mobile maintenance units, 24-7 technical hotline support and fly-in technicians to locations where there is no on-site professional support.
RMA manages its food and hospitality business through Express Food Group (EFG), who run franchises of The Pizza Company, Swensen’s, Dairy Queen, Costa Coffee, BBQ Chicken and Krispy Kreme Doughnuts. EFG is steadily expanding food and beverage operations across South East Asia. In addition to this, RMA also operates restaurants at three international airports and currently holds 15 outlets in Singapore and 16 outlets in Siem Reap and Phnom Penh.
As owners of the Foreign Correspondents Club, EFG, operates two outstanding hotels, their restaurants and spas in Cambodia.
RMA takes an active role in Ford Motor Company’s corporate sustainability program. This is centered on a science-based global strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. It advances realistic, workable and effective climate change solutions. It is transforming current and future product and service planning as RMA introduces new products and technologies that significantly cut fuel consumption and emissions.
RMA is a registered member with D&B, the world’s leading source of commercial information and insight on businesses, providing companies with quality business information in order to make critical business decisions.
RMA has ISO 9001 certification from Bureau Veritas, recognized world leader in conformity assessment and certification standards related to quality management and good business practices. ISO 9001 management principles apply to such key areas as customer focus, leadership, processes, system management, continual improvement and fact-based decision-making.
RMA has ISO 14001 certification from Bureau Veritas, recognized world leader in conformity assessment and certification standards. ISO 14001:2004 is a part of a series of international standards applicable to any organization relating to environmental management. ISO 14001: 2004 specifies the most important requirements to identify, control and monitor the environmental aspects of any organization; and promote the appropriate management of environmental issues in order to contribute positively to economic gain.
RMA is a member of, subscribes to and endorses the UN Global Compact, a strategic policy initiative for businesses that are committed to aligning their operations and strategies with ten universally accepted principles in the areas of human rights, labour, environment and anti-corruption. The intention of these guidelines is for businesses to help ensure that markets, commerce, technology and finance advance in ways that benefit economies and societies everywhere.
Endurance
For its customers to grow and thrive, they need product solutions and partnerships that can survive the most difficult times and conditions. There is power in Endurance, and RMA clients grow in partnership with the company.
RMA continually invests for the long term – in its businesses, in its partnerships with customers and in the durability of products and solutions.
Innovation
From its early days in complex and emerging markets, RMA has understood that to be relevant to customers it must deliver products and service solutions imagined out of necessity – and to do it better. The value of Innovation has become an underlying concept in the RMA approach to meeting customer needs.
RMA thrives on delivering creative solutions, tailored to suit specific customer requirements.
RMA introduced an easy-to-manage solution to remove used engine oil in the Afghan army. As part of the waste management system, the oil was filtered and recycled several times, saving money and the environment.
Looking at a challenge from new angles can result in innovative solutions. RMA and its long-time business partner, Ford Motor Company, began using wheat straw-reinforced plastic rather than 100% traditional petroleum products to create plastic storage bins. This change is estimated to have reduced petroleum use by 20,000 pounds and CO2 emissions by 30,000 pounds per year.
The Compact aligns business operations and strategies with 10 universally accepted principles in the areas of human rights, labor, environment and anti-corruption. RMA ensures that its own actions support and embrace the protections of internationally accepted human rights and rejects rights abuses. RMA supports the elimination of discrimination in the workplace and the abolition of child labor. Read more about the UN Global Compact and its principles.
RMA helps create social and economic opportunity wherever it conducts business, through careful management of its social footprint and the positive contribution it can make in people’s lives. As a worldwide employer, RMA supports the rights of individuals and cares for them as neighbors. RMA subscribes to the concept of equal opportunity, to creating a positive work environment, and offering people the kind of training that will help them realize their full potential.
Integrity
To maintain business over time, RMA understands that customers want a long-term partner to support them, be committed to the business relationship and be reliable. Integrity is important and evident in everything RMA does.
RMA always strives for the best for its customers. Whatever it does is done right, and without compromise.
Where power grid systems are inadequate or incomplete, RMA can provide, install and maintain power generation systems and turnkey project solutions to municipalities, hospitals, private contracting projects, and populations in remote locations, partnering with industry leaders Himoinsa, SDMO, and Kohler power systems.
Along with offering complete fleet solutions, RMA offers tailored payment plans to meet the personal and commercial needs of their customers across a broad range of sectors. Trusted for over 30 years, RMA continues to set high service standards, helping customers achieve personal and organizational enrichment with tailored vehicles and equipment solutions.