Linkedin Premium and my executive position search...

Yesterday, I was invited to have a free (month) upgrade job search Premium on LinkedIn.
You can see who has been looking at your profile, and can contact people directly through InMail.
I won't bother.

I have directly contacted people by attending two ASLI automotive conferences. The second one I presented and hosted several discussions with CEO's and executives from SepangF1 Proton and Perodua.

I would like to thank Kenanga Simon and her team at ASLI for being so helpful in making this happen.

Kenanga, recently left ASLI. I wish her well in her new career.

Networking is important. Nothing beats someone recognising you and saying something positive, or negative!

I have made it known to high level people that I want to make my proposal a reality. I'm not a multi millionaire, so I would be happy to work at a level that would give me the budget and freedom to execute the plan.

Additionally, I believe that my plan dovetails with DRB Hicom's global strategy. They have just bought the Lotus dealerships in China.

I have already made this clear on numerous occasions to Lotus/Proton and DRB Hicom. I can't imagine that having a premium LinkedIn account will make any difference.

It would be nice if the hiring team would look at my webpage and blog. Get some feedback, both positive and negative from people who know me, and make the right decision. Hire me. You won't regret it!

A few unrelated thoughts.Nice guys come last!

I have been annoying the latest Management team at Group Lotus /DRB-Hicom / Proton with my proposal.

I sent them a link to my TV interview.
 http://motorsportuniversitymalaysia.com/index.php?id=35

and a link to the SKY report on a Sports UNIVERSITY
http://motorsportuniversitymalaysia.com/index.php?id=36

Nothing new there! Come on Guys! Be nice. Invest in this project.

I see Dany Bahar's company car is for sale. Dany is suing DRB-Hicom for over £6.7 million for wrongful dismissal.

Proton gave him a 4 year contract just before DRB-Hicom bought them. Syed Zainal the Man responsible is no longer with proton.

Dany's settlement would be about $10 USA million.

Just goes to show how much top notch leaders get.

I remember when attending ASLI Auto conference 2009, a mystery high level recruiter sidled up to me at Proton's test track, and nattered on about his Red Bull/Ferrari client. How people don't mind paying for success.

I always remember Kevin, my boss at Lotus saying 'John, remember nice guys always come last!'

Kevin has now gone on to marry his new teenage bride, and heads up a prestigeous engineering consultancy.

Friendships in the Auto industry don't tend to run deep.

Pretending to be nice is important though.

As to whether I am nice, that is for others to judge.

My time will come. Of that I'm sure.

Syed Zainal resigns, Dany Bahar suspended

Today, a number of media outlets say that Proton MD Dato Syed Zainal has resigned from Proton and Dany Bahar has been suspended by DRB-Hicom.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-norfolk-18215542
http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_News/BTIMES/articles/20120526002024/Article/index_html

I have been in contact with both about my MUM proposal.
No real interest shown.
I moderated in ASLI Automotive conference in 2010. I shared a stage with Syed Zainal.
He was very polite and a very good speaker. I wish him well.

I moderated session 3.
The German eco warrior Mr Matthias Gelber was very entertaining.
http://www.slideshare.net/wrusso1011/3rd-kuala-lumpur-international-automotive-conference

I met the Proton Advisor, and had my photo taken.

I assume DRB-Hicom are going to be more hands on.
Naturally, I have sent a presentation to the DRB-Hicom MD plus others.
See what happens.
I have received very good feedback on my Charity book. It is now available in print.
Please buy it!

http://www.samasama.de/innocence-lost-in-the-ice-cream-forest/

Leave a comment or go to Amazon, buy the book and write a review.

Proton to submit roadmap to the Malaysian government

Proton car company is Malaysian. It has thus far been protected by the government. This is due to end by 2018.
They have been told to give the government their roadmap for the future.
This a portion of the STAR report.

“At the end of the day, we want our automotive industry to remain and be competitive,'' said Malaysia Automotive Institute (MAI) chairman Datuk Kamaruddin Ismail in an interview with StarBiz recently.
“We have asked Proton and Perodua to present their competitive roadmaps and from there, we will chart it.”

Post liberalisation, MAI intends to make Malaysia the most choice destination for automobile production in South-East Asia. To accomplish that, the country will be looking in-depth at the skills the auto industry in Malaysia will possess and offer to foreign companies.

I sincerely hope that Proton includes my MUM proposal in roadmap.

The Government is aware of the proposal as I presented it at the ASLI Automotive conference this year. I met the Proton MD personally, I mediated during his presentation, and even got to shake hands with the Proton adviser Dr Mahathir.

Many thanks to the ASLI team for giving me the opportunity.

Last week Motorcycle news reviewed the new Ducati cruiser, the Diavel. The journalist says the product has:

 SIP... Style Innovation and Performance.

These are qualities we should expect from Proton Lotus and MUM.

Here is the video:

I participated in the ASLI Auto conference. Presented MUM. Attended the KLIMS KL Auto Show.

I just spent two days at the ASLI Auto conference. I got to rub shoulders with Malaysia's movers and shakers. I appreciate the opportunity to present my proposal to an audience who may be actually be able to move it forward.
I presented with Tengku Mahaleel, who took centre stage, and SIC chairman Dato Mokhzani, or Dato Mokzee as Tengku Mahaleel referred to him.

Apparently, I made the evening new on the first day TV3. I had an interesting time. Lets see what happens.

Here I'm shaking hands with the major mover and shaker, Tun Mahathir (Dato Mokzee's dad). He was gracious enough to have his photo taken with me.

 I have to say Tun Mahathir obviously has an influential circle of friends. Seen here with Hilary (at another event I hasten to add).

Many thanks to Kenanga of ASLI for being so supportive.
The KLIMS Auto show was interesting. I'm glad that Malaysia can hold one. Sadly the UK has missed out in the last couple of years.
I moderated a couple of the ASLI Sessions:
Session 3 : Green Technology (Matthias Gelber - The greenest Man on the planet - was very entertaining and informative).

I sat beside Dato Zainal MD of Proton. He was very composed, and comes across very well.

 Session 4 NAP (National Auto Policy.) I was sat beside the new MD of Perodua Datuk Aminar Rashid Salleh. He had only been in the job 70 days. Once again he was very pleasant.

 Tengku Mahaleel was a handful. He went over his presentation time, and got gonged several times!

I presented in session 7 Motorsport potential and promise:
Thankfully, I let my video do most of the talking!
I made up a short powerpoint from my webpage which I presented afterwards. I am capable of confident public speaking. I was disappointed with myself for not practicing more before the event.

Neither of my fellow participants had official presentations. Tengku Mahaleel invited some of his friends to the function. He got them to ask him questions about the old days, and how cheap it is to race at grassroots level... (Cheap is a relative thing... I don't think Tengku and his friends are from working class backgrounds).
Tengku Mahaleel received good feedback for his efforts. (10/10 from some people).Dato Mokhzani spoke off the cuff. He is chairman of the Sepang F1 circuit. He was polite, and answered questions from the floor in a straightforward manner.
Click here to view webpage:
Click here to view video. username: mum  password: 2020

All in all a very pleasant couple of days. Alex Yoong should try and make an appearance next year.

Many thanks to Hanis and Herry for the support on the day! Plus Tilo for graphics on the video.
A special thank you to Armin for letting me borrow a few pic from his blog:
http://arminbaniaz.com/2010/12/3rd-kuala-lumpur-international.html

3rd Kuala Lumpur International Automotive Conference

View more documents from Synergistics Limited.

Dany Bahar, Bob Lutz and Claudio Berra hold a conference...

As I have said before, next week I will be attending the ASLI automotive conference in Kuala Lumpur 1-2 December 2010. It precedes the KL Auto show.

I read in Autoweek .com that Dany Bahar held a conference in an expensive mansion last week.
Here is a small portion of the Claudio Berro presentation...

Then it was motorsports director Claudio Berro's turn with the laser wand. Berro is also from Ferrari. He started by saying that the Indianapolis 500 "is the most important race anywhere in the world," letting us know where Lotus's priorities stood. He reiterated Lotus's participation in the IndyCar series, in GT4 with the Evora and the availability of the Type 125 semi-F1 car for private gentleman racers. He said that Lotus's IndyCar entry in 2011 will consist of "two or three cars," and the following year Lotus would provide "bodywork" for IndyCars.

The 2011 season would also see Lotus in GP2 and GP3; in ALMS with an LMP2 entry; a Lotus presence in GT2/Endurance racing; a full season of Lotus Cup races around the world, specifically series in the United States, the United Kingdom, Europe, Japan and the Middle East with 40 to 50 cars each weekend, and Lotus Academies just about everywhere there is a Lotus Cup. That is a tremendous amount of motorsports, even by pie-in-the-sky standards

Bob Lutz earned his crust with this comment.

"Of course they have a chance," said Lutz, perhaps being a bit too blunt. "If you do nothing, then it's certain death. If you make a massive investment, then it's maybe death. When faced with the choice of maybe dying and certainly dying, you always pick maybe dying. I learned that in military aviation."

We all die, thats a fact of life. Lotus appears to be in the middle of a rebirth. I hope they grow up big and strong...
At the ASLI conference, I will be presenting the slideshare presentation below.
In my opinion this presentation dovetails in well with the new racing plans envisaged by the company. The same can be said of the plans for the new economic corridor planned for Johor.

Motorsport University Malaysia

View more presentations from johnsean.

Tony Fernandes may not use Team Lotus name, although he legally owns it. ASLI Automotive conference coming soon. Go it should be interesting.

Renault have sold their 25% share in the F1 team to Proton.
Proton will now spend Euro30 million a year for the privelege of promoting the Lotus brand. Tony Fernandes has stated he does not intend to have two Lotus named cars in F1. I have to assume we will now have an Air Asia /Tunes / Naza named car on the grid.
http://paultan.org/2010/11/13/telephone-interview-with-tony-fernandes-of-lotus-racing/
Tony now owns the Team Lotus name.
Oh well.
I'd be happy to use the Team Lotus name in relation to my MUM proposal.
Base it in Johor. MUM could quite happily co-exist with both Tony and Proton as an independent educational entity.
I will be at the ASLI automotive conference in a couple of weeks. I'll punt the idea around there.
http://www.asli.com.my/cgi-bin/event_calendar.cfm

This years conference will have a Motorsport portion.
http://www.asli.com.my/cgi-bin/details.cfm?type=conference&id=286

It would be nice if Alex Yoong and Tengku Djan could attend.
Alex works with Tony Fernandes.
http://paultan.org/2009/09/26/alex-yoong-lotus-f1-deputy-team-principal/

 Djan is head of Proton Motorsport



I'm sure that Proton will send some big hitters, I'm not sure about Group Lotus (Dany Bahar) or Tony Fernandes.

Tun Mahathir is a keynote speaker...
Resolve Lotus issue amicably, urges Mahathir

It should be interesting in any event!

I will be at ASLI conference. I might raffle Italian Job script for charity. Group Lotus Team Lotus saga goes on.

Today, I confirmed again my attendance at this years ASLI Auto conference. I will be a panellist in 3 sections. The conference coincides with the KL Auto show.
The ASLI auto conference 1-2 December precedes the Auto Show

I have an early 'Italian Job' script I might raffle to attendees. All procedes to charity. I'm waiting for ASLI to agree.
The Lotus Formula 1 saga goes on...
Here is a portion of a David Hunt interview.
http://www.theracedriver.com/2010/11/david-hunt-exclusive-on-team-lotus/

Let’s be clear: Group Lotus has never raced in F1, and, despite what it now claims on the freshly-applied murals on the Proton Building at Hethel, it has no F1 World Championships, Grand Prix wins, poles or even races contested in its history. Their claims are as ridiculous as if I had announced a new sports road car from Team Lotus which followed in the long tradition of Team Lotus road cars such as the Elan, Esprit, Europa etc. I would have been passing off; my claims would have been laughable and Team Lotus would have been demolished in court if it had dared defend litigation from Group. In my opinion that is what is likely to happen to Group in the litigation now underway in the British High Court. It is also my opinion that they know that as well as I do, which is why they have attacked now. I believe they are counting on it never reaching the court hearing and a ‘Malaysian settlement’ resolving ‘ownership’ of Team Lotus in their favour.

David Hunt is obviously of the opinion he has sold the rights to Tony Fernandes.

I think from an educational perspective this could be an interesting thing to study. I'm sure we could do an interesting Law Module using this whole thing as an example.

I'm looking forward to the conference. I certainly hope some good will come out of it.

Tengku Djan should ask to moderate ASLI auto conference

I am back in the UK. The political news is centred around Pakistan. Sadly they have a natural disaster which has left many dead and homeless. The new UK government has annoyed the Pakistani government.
Domestically, the banks are again making huge profits. The new UK government has announced it needs to cut back it's spending. So pensions and the unemployed are under review!
All is not well in the UK

I should point out here I am available for hire!
You can directly contact me here:


john.mansfield@motorsportuniversitymalaysia.com

It is my intention to attend the Automotive ASLI conference in DECEMBER.
I am confirmed. I will be on the stage twice.
Automotive Conference December 1-2 December PWTC Kuala Lumpur

The conference will have leaders from both Group Lotus and Proton.
I would imagine it will be a wonderful networking opportunity. I don't expect I will get to have an audience with Tun Mahathir, although it would be nice!
I hope to rub shoulders with Dany Bahar and Proton upper management.
It would be nice if Tengku Djan could make an appearance. I feel that his Motorsport background and corporate position, he is head of Proton Motorsport would be appreciated. Maybe he should contact ASLI and ask if he can moderate...
They have someone down to moderate session 7.
SESSION 7:
FORMULA ONE (F1) RACING & MOTORSPORTS: THE POTENTIAL & THE PROMISE
The person was my guest last year. He has not confirmed. I think Djan in many ways would be a more rounded moderator.
The unconfirmed speaker is a TV presenter among other things, and as such is an accomplished speaker. Djan has a slightly different background. I worked with Djan at Lotus, and I think he would do a good job.
Djan phone up ASLI and offer your services!
Incidently, I met Djan's dad there last year. He was kind enough to give me Djan's telephone number and took a couple of my leaflets for him.

I am a speaker at ASLI Automotive Conference in December. Lotus to produce IRL Aero Package?

I have been invited to present my MUM proposal.

The conference is in December.
Hopefully, by that time I will have some positive developments to report!

This will coincide with the KL Auto show.
Motorsport and it's influence, educational and otherwise will be on the agenda.


It would be nice if members of Team Lotus made an appearance. I'm not sure about Group lotus. Last year top level Proton management attended. The then Group lotus CEO also made a short appearance.
Hopefully, this year the new CEO Dany Bahar will feature.
Last year Alex Yoong was my guest. I hope he returns this year.

Since last year a new entity Lotus Racing headed by Tony Fernandes has come into existence.
1Malaysia F1Team are a new F1 team presently based in Norfolk. Long term, they will be based in SepangF1, where they are setting up a centre.

I have to ask the question. From a racing perspective Tony Fernandes run the F1 team. Group Lotus run a Lotus branded team in the American IRL series (I used to volunteer at the old CART Belle Isle race).
However, Here is a portion of a recent Autosport article:

The Lotus Group is already involved in the branding of Takuma Sato's KV Racing car.

 Lotus Racing boss Tony Fernandes hinted at an increased role (for Lotus F1 racing) after yesterday's announcement.

"Lotus Racing congratulates the IndyCar Series on this exciting news and supports the revolutionary concept of a standard safety cell with various manufacturers producing aero kits," he said.
"We look forward to seeing more details on this future car strategy, and hopefully, allow our involvement in the series."

 Team Lotus (1malaysiaf1 team) obviously have an aerodynamic team in place, computational and physical (wind tunnel).

A small part of an interesting article from SpeedTV.
Open Source Aero
• It is still frustratingly undefined, but the panel will require aero kits to be made available to whomever wants to buy one. Whether that means HVM Racing can buy the current version of a Ganassi aero kit, or if a Ganassi would get to use the kit for an exclusive period before others could buy it is unknown

Maybe we can expect a few Air AsiaX and 1Malaysia decals on next years IRL car(s)?

The new IRL rules allow for several engine manufacturers. Lotus (both team and group) have agreements with Cosworth. See if anything develops there.

This is my slideshare presentation:

Motorsport University Malaysia

View more presentations from johnsean.

Duke of York in Malaysia promoting UK Malaysia ties

The Duke of York is in Malaysia promoting UK Malaysian business. . I hope the Duke has worked his magic and all goes well!
ASLI sponsored event

Picture taken from the Business Times article:
Here are two small portion of the article:
International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed said Malaysia would need collaboration in the services sector, especially in financial services and human capital development, and looked forward for input from the UK.


Perak Crown Prince Raja Nazrin Shah said for British-Malaysian ties to reach new heights, there must continue to be openness.
"If there are problems and issues, these should be worked out with genuine sincerity. A dialogue between different cultures alerts both parties to any biases that might exist ... new horizons of opportunities can then be expanded."
He also called for constructive interaction at all levels, be it governments, think-tanks, universities and civil society organisations.

 I am due to speak at the ASLI Automotive conference in December. Lets see if I have anything to talk about!


I thought I'd finish with a video of the Duke talking to David Frost.



I have added this video because the Duke discusses his 'Performance" which is now monitored by Price Waterhouse. Interesting!

Limkokwing sign MOU with Maxis. Proton sign with Petronas

I see today that Limkokwing University has signed an MOU with Maxis, a major player in the Mobile communications industry.
Here is a quote from the Edge article:
Under the MoU, Maxis will provide LUCT students and lecturers with Apple iPhone 3Gs bundled with special prepaid and postpaid plans to facilitate learning on the go.

"With the growth in uptake of advanced mobile devices and data services — the way we change and connect is being rapidly transformed.
This video is one of CNBC's it deals with 'Apps'. I feel sure, it has many educational possibilities...

I have used Limkokwing as my benchmark for the ONE MILLION virtual students figure I have quoted on my website below.
See page 5 on the slideshare presentation.

Motorsport University Malaysia

View more documents from johnsean.

I have previously mentioned that I am invited to participate at the ASLI Automotive conference (Asian Strategic Leadership Institute)planned to coincide with Kuala Lumpurs Auto Show.3-12 December 2010
Auto Show to conicide with ASLI auto conference

Last year Alex Yoong was my guest. I am hoping that this year that some Lotus high flyers will make an appearance. Motorsport is a specialised aspect of the complete Automotive industry however, given the new Group CEO at Lotus and the newly formed LotusF1 I think Malaysia would enjoy hearing from the new kids on the block!

This week Proton, owners of Group Lotus met with Petronas, Sponsors of Mercedes F1 and Yamaha MotoGP to sign an MOU for lubricant useage.Petronas are major shareholders in Proton and by default Group Lotus.
The videos below show the event.
Several people in the videos have received copies of my Slideshare/webpage presentations.

ASLI

ASLI the Asian Strategic Leadership Institute, has invited me and my team to their upcoming UNITY conference.
Malaysia for those that don't know is a mixture of races predominently Malays (Bumiputras) Chinese and Indian.
Political parties have racial (and religious) component parts.
I'm sure that when MUM becomes a reality, it's Malaysian campus would have to accomodate all Malaysians.
My plan to reach 1 million students, effectively means that MUM would ultimately be open for everyone globally.
A 1Malaysia strategy is presently being promoted within the country.
I am presently in the UK. I may or may not attend.
The new Formula One team comes under 1MalaysiaF1 so the concept has entered motorsport!

Tilo and Sofie with Me... Thanks for all the help!!

 

The autumn weather has arrived! Tilo, my graphic and editing buddy arrived back in KL today. Here he is (Harry Potter look alike) with me and Sofie last year. Both Tilo and Sofie have been very helpful and supportive during the last couple of years. I certainly wouldn't be so far advanced with this proposal without them.
I see the King of Malaysia arrived in England this weekend along with Hj Tajul (Proton Engineering Director).
I met Hj Tajul at the ASLI automotive conference recently. When I worked in Shah Alam for Lotus, he sat a few feet away from me.
Hj Tajul is very much a gentleman.
Lotus have updated the Campro, a joint Proton/Lotus designed engine to accept a turbo...

I've embedded a video shot in the Lotus UK headquarters. It is in the Malaysian language.

Proton managing director Datuk Syed Zainal Abidin Syed Mohamed Tahir, group managing director Datuk Syed Zainal Abidin Syed Mohamed Tahir and newly-appointed Lotus chief executive officer Dany Taner Bahar, who replaced Michael J. Kimberley when he retired in July.
Possibly discussing the MUM project last weekend!

Alex Yoong approached by Tony Fernandes... LotusF1 may have a new employee

I read on the web that Alex Yoong has been approached by Air Asia boss Tony Fernandes to be part of his F1 team.

First of all I am biased. Alex Yoong spent two days as my guest at a recent ASLI conference on the global Automotive business.
He has given me permission to stick his pic on my webpage, and has openly supported MUM.
This is more support than I received from any member of Group Lotus, past or present.
So 'Yes' I hope Tony uses him. Hopefully, he is not in it for the money. Rather, because he can visualise the 'Big picture'.
Once again, I admit I am biased!
I have embeded my webpage below:

Motorsport University Malaysia

View more documents from johnsean.

Video shoot complete. Editing and web page in progress

Yesterday, I filmed the video. I wrote an introductory script for my new website.

It is my intention to send the video to some of the people at the conference, in the hope that they will be suitably impressed. Impressed enough to view

http://www.motorsportuniversitymalaysia.com/

Shortly, I will be adding content pertaining to the plan and strategy for Johor and Shanghai campuses.

I have every confidence that they will then make the right decision, and contact me with a view to making the vision a reality.

The video will be available for viewing by invite only.

Tilo (http://www.samasama.de/index.php) helping me with my new website, and video editing.

Herry (http://www.itv2.de/) shot the video.


Unlike the video the website is available for public viewing. I am hoping that this will be a first class site. I am responsible for the content. Other more capable people will look after the graphical side.

The ASLI conference went well. I asked one or two questions and networked.

Alex Yoong gave his support and sat with me for the two days... raising my profile!

Thanks Alex! (Sorry no picture of Alex and me) waiting for ASLI to send me one