Beating the ODDS
The CEO Magazine Asia|January 2020
THE BOSS OF DFI LUCKY SUPERMARKET ADMITS HIS APPROACH TO LIFE CHANGED AFTER SURVIVING THE BOXING DAY TSUNAMI. BUT WAS IT STEPHANE PARIENTE’S FEARLESS APPROACH THAT LED TO HIS SURVIVAL?
WENDY KAY
Beating the ODDS

It was Boxing Day in 2004 and Stephane Pariente was soaking up the sun on Patong beach at the edge of the holiday resort town of Phuket. The retail executive had been living in Asia for 15 years and Thailand was a favourite holiday destination. He was relaxed and happy.

But then the waves hit. Triggered by a 9.1-magnitude earthquake off the northern tip of Sumatra in Indonesia, massive walls of water smashed down onto the beach, tearing through the coastal village, destroying everything in its path. The Indian Ocean tsunami claimed more than 230,000 lives across 14 countries, with 259 of those lost in Phuket.

Stephane was lucky. He survived. “I was hit by the first wave and pulled to the very extreme, drowning underwater. Yes, I nearly died. But it was not my time, so here I am.”

For the past two years, “here” has been Cambodia, where Stephane is the Managing Director of DFI Lucky Supermarket, a leading chain of supermarket and Guardian health and beauty outlets. The Lucky Market Group, owned by the Heng Meng family, opened its first supermarket in Cambodia in 1993. In 2012, it merged with Dairy Farm International (DFI), with Lucky retaining 30 per cent control and DFI holding the remaining 70 per cent. DFI Lucky’s three sectors are Lucky Supermarket, Lucky Express, and Guardian health and beauty store, which offers a wide variety of products to supplement health, skin and beauty.

Stephane has been with DFI since 2015 when he was poached from his role as Regional Director for Carrefour in Shanghai to take up the position of Vice President of Rustan Supercenters, another DFI subsidiary operating in the Philippines.

After nearly two years, he was asked to head DFI Lucky Supermarket in Cambodia and has since increased business by 100 per cent.

“I knew what to do straight away,” Stephane admits. “I have an acute business sense for what needs to be done.”

This story is from the January 2020 edition of The CEO Magazine Asia.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the January 2020 edition of The CEO Magazine Asia.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM THE CEO MAGAZINE ASIAView All
Lito German Is Driving Change And Accelerating Growth For Sandbox
The CEO Magazine Asia

Lito German Is Driving Change And Accelerating Growth For Sandbox

After years in the automotive industry, CEO Lito German is now driving change and accelerating growth for importer and distributor Sandbox Middle East.

time-read
4 mins  |
September 2021
They're Pioneers In Enshrining Green Values Into Everything They Do
The CEO Magazine Asia

They're Pioneers In Enshrining Green Values Into Everything They Do

CEO Chamaiporn Uerpairojkit explains how thai plastics giant tpbi was committed to sustainability long before the government made an industry-changing announcement last year.

time-read
4 mins  |
September 2021
Maverick Unicorn
The CEO Magazine Asia

Maverick Unicorn

Spotify co-founder and CEO Daniel Ek is a textbook example of the startup gurus propelling their companies to billion-dollar valuations.

time-read
4 mins  |
September 2021
''Increase The Velocity''
The CEO Magazine Asia

''Increase The Velocity''

Adapting Camfil’s business model to work at a faster pace was critical for the business to thrive in today’s China, according to managing director Michel Moulin.

time-read
5 mins  |
September 2021
Device Manager
The CEO Magazine Asia

Device Manager

Covid-19 tore the world’s tech supply chains asunder, the effects of which are still being felt today. But through steady management and quality of work, malaysian component manufacturer analog devices has managed to thrive during the storm.

time-read
4 mins  |
September 2021
Going Antiviral
The CEO Magazine Asia

Going Antiviral

Chiaphua Industries chief marketing officer and co-founder of Germagic Hamilton Hung has transformed the appliance manufacturer into an antiviral research and development powerhouse. And he has done so with patience and vision.

time-read
4 mins  |
September 2021
Risk Vs Return
The CEO Magazine Asia

Risk Vs Return

Add pandemic fallout to a low interest-rate environment and you have a challenge for highnet-worth investors. Where might opportunities lie?

time-read
4 mins  |
September 2021
Expect The Unexpected
The CEO Magazine Asia

Expect The Unexpected

For lockton philippines insurance & reinsurance brokers ceo vic valledor, providing affordable premiums for the poorest families is vital, especially considering the recent challenges of the covid-19 pandemic.

time-read
5 mins  |
September 2021
The Ultimate Investments
The CEO Magazine Asia

The Ultimate Investments

With the global economic recovery from the pandemic underway, many analysts are suggesting now is the time to invest – but will whisky, soybeans or bitcoin find a way into your portfolio?

time-read
5 mins  |
September 2021
The Future Of Fintech
The CEO Magazine Asia

The Future Of Fintech

Covid-19 has accelerated the world’s shift to a digital economy, and airwallex co-founder and president Lucy Liu wants to make sure there are more female fintech leaders with her at the top.

time-read
3 mins  |
September 2021