Cover The board chairperson of Paratus Energy Services believes having great mentors and learning to be bold made her the leader she is today (Photo: Daniel Adams)
The board chairperson of Paratus Energy Services believes having great mentors and learning to be bold made her the leader she is today (Photo: Daniel Adams)
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The board chairperson of Euronext Growth Oslo-listed energy services group Paratus Energy Services believes having great mentors and learning to be bold made her the leader she is today
“I remember something an ex-boss said to me: ‘Never chase money or profits, because if you do your job well, both will come,’” Chow Mei Mei remarks candidly. An ICAEW chartered accountant with over 25 years of experience at senior management levels, C-Suite positions and board appointments in multinational companies, Chow developed strong capabilities in the fields of IPO listings, mergers and acquisitions, equity and debt fund-raising, and turnaround strategy and execution for large listed companies–skills that made her an invaluable resource at prestigious corporations like PWC, Sime Darby and Sapura Energy.
At Sime Darby, she was tasked with starting a group strategy and corporate finance department from scratch. She was part of the key management team responsible for the turnaround of several businesses within the group. Eventually, she was appointed finance director for the group motor division, where she worked closely with the CEO to turn it from a loss-making division into a significant profit-earner in Sime Darby in the span of three to four years.
Above In 2022, Chow Mei Mei joined the board of Paratus Energy Services, the holding company of a group of leading energy services companies (Photo: Paratus Energy)
In 2022, Chow Mei Mei joined the board of Paratus Energy Services, the holding company of a group of leading energy services companies (Photo: Paratus Energy)
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She also spent over a decade at global oil and gas giant Sapura Energy, where her unique talents and expertise earned her a place in its top leadership. “I’ve always had great mentors who showed me that it’s sometimes a good thing to say and do what is not popular and to stick with what you believe is the right decision. My ex-boss used to joke about the fact that I was often the only woman in the room for leadership meetings, at one point commenting to the room: ‘Mei Mei’s got a pair when it comes to making hard decisions.”
“I don’t mean to over-generalise, but sometimes we find ourselves in situations where you have that yes-boss mentality, and nobody dares to give a contrarian view,” Chow adds. “What generally happens when women leaders give a contrary view is they come across as brash and uncooperative, but only because we’re willing to say no to something that doesn’t work. That’s always a juggle and a balance, to say it so that your ideas and thoughts are respected.”
Above Tatler’s Asia’s Most Influential 2023 honouree Chow spent over a decade in the senior leadership at global oil and gas giant, Sapura Energy (Photo: Daniel Adams/Tatler Malaysia)
Tatler’s Asia’s Most Influential 2023 honouree Chow spent over a decade in the senior leadership at global oil and gas giant, Sapura Energy (Photo: Daniel Adams/Tatler Malaysia)
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“I take a lot of pride in the fact that they [Paratus Energy] saw potential in me and placed trust in me—someone who’s residing in Asia, someone they’re not used to at all, not a man, nor a European, and yet leading their team. The respect I got from the shareholders was just amazing, and the management team are all problem-solvers and team players, which is so important. One issue you can have in an organisation are big egos and individuals who want to take the glory. But here, everyone works together, and we wouldn’t have come to where we are today if it weren’t for the team’s skills and working together.”
Above Paratus Energy was listed on Euronex Growth Oslo in June 2024
Paratus Energy was listed on Euronex Growth Oslo in June 2024
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This week, Paratus Energy Services hit another milestone under Chow’s leadership, announcing its successful listing on Euronext Growth Oslo following a private placement of 15,309,059 new shares priced at NOK 51.66 per share (US$4.90 or RM22.90), raising gross proceeds of around US$75 million.
Paratus, based in London and Oslo, also recently completed a successful bond raise worth US$500 million, one of the largest Nordic raises in recent times. “I’m immensely proud of what we’ve achieved since Paratus’ emergence as a newly restructured company and am very excited about the opportunities that lie ahead,” Chow remarks.
Above “What generally happens when women leaders do give a contrary view is they come across as brash and uncooperative, but only because we're willing to say no to something that doesn't work” — Chow Mei Mei (Photo: Getty)
“What generally happens when women leaders do give a contrary view is they come across as brash and uncooperative, but only because we're willing to say no to something that doesn't work” — Chow Mei Mei (Photo: Getty)
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Looking back, Chow admits she struggled to look after herself after years of putting work and family first. She says retirement was a way for her to find the fulfilment and balance she yearned for all these years.
“I threw myself into charity work for a year. I finally had a bit of time to myself, to my husband, my two daughters Robyn and Natasha whom I am immensely proud of, and quite a lot of time for my mum before she passed,” she adds. “My mum was a housewife, and I grew up with six brothers. She brought me up almost like a boy, always saying, ‘I do not want you to be like me, relying on a man for my financial needs. You go out there and be independent.’ I think that being brought up in a family of boys and raised by a mum who didn’t want me to be like her all probably formed who I am today.”
Credits
Photography: Daniel Adams
Make-Up: Tale Studio
Hair: Tale Studio
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Previously contributing to Esquire Malaysia, Expat Lifestyle and Newsweek, Tania oversees digital stories across Tatler’s key content pillars, also leading the Front & Female platform exploring issues and topics affecting women today.
