Macau Opinion | See you around, amigo

Despite the friendship that binds me to the individual targeted by this text, I understand that the words I hereby address are above all an exercise of gratitude for what this gentleman has done for the Macau SAR and its citizens over the last decade.

Last month, local radio TDM announced that Sands China (SC) executive committee member, Mr. António Ramirez would leave his position as senior vice president of human resources after more than 10 years. During his term, Mr. Ramirez oversaw leadership development, training, employee relations, compensation, benefits, communication initiatives and human resources practices and policies within the SC organisation across Macau, Hong Kong and China, which means that he was responsible for 30,000 people (or as he always liked to say “team members”). Under normal circumstances, the challenge may not seem unique or truly demanding. There are thousands of international corporations with these staff figures, and their businesses run as smoothly as Sands China operations in Macau. It happens however, that at the destinations such international corporations are operating in, manpower is not usually the scarcest asset in town. Some of those corporations may have budget problems, lack of clients, obsolete infrastructure or any other relevant operational issues, but certainly they do not lack the staff to run their businesses. In Macau however, companies may not face budgeting or clientele issues, but they certainly lack people to hire for their highly demanding headcount operations. Especially considering Macau’s biggest industries – gaming and (luxury) hospitality – and the exclusive level of services they both provide, one can understand how demanding of workers (qualified or not) these operations are.

This said, we may all agree that being the head of HR under these unique circumstances is not an enviable role. It’s like being the Minister of Finance of a bankrupt country… you are in charge of the scarcest resources possible. Yet, despite the said unique circumstances, António Ramirez managed to stay in the role for more than 10 years and he has not just satisfactorily delivered. He put in place several and unique policies that helped adapt SC operations through the several different “eras” of Macau’s tourism industry, and helped to put the company in pole position of Macau’s market.

These results were achieved because António is the kind of professional who does not sleep in his role and does not feel happy achieving just standard results. António thinks about his company and department strategy 365 days a year, night and day. He lived for the company and his “team members’” achievements and frustrations every day of his term, and he was always around when needed. He was in town permanently, feeling the city’s hindrances, stresses and worst days. António was not merely looking over at Macau from a fancy office located in Hong Kong’s central district or the US.

I’m sure that the company and team members will miss António’s guidance and charisma, but I’m also sure that someone like António has much more to give to Macau. See you around, amigo.

*Lawyer and regular contributor to MNA