Faces of HR: EssilorLuxottica’s Andre Young on why the future of leadership starts with culture, not promotions

"Future-ready leaders won’t emerge from static competency models or outdated succession lists — they’ll emerge from environments that reward adaptability, emotional intelligence, and cross-border thinking," the VP HR, APAC and Greater China Operations, shares.

Andre Young didn’t start in HR — he found his way into the profession via non-profit, sales, and business development. But from the moment he stepped into the HR space, one core belief stuck: people aren’t just employees — they’re multipliers of purpose and performance. That mindset has powered his leadership journey across borders and business functions.

Today, he takes pride in his role as Vice President Human Resources, APAC and Greater China Operations for EssilorLuxottica, bringing a unique blend of commercial acumen, cultural fluency, and heart-led leadership to the table. With a career that has taken him to the United States, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, and emerging markets across the region, Young’s people philosophy is anything but one-size-fits-all.

Prior to his sessions at #TransformTalentTH, Young chats with Mary Ann Budunkin, on how organisations must evolve beyond traditional models to build future-ready leaders, why culture is the true catalyst for transformation, and what trends will redefine HR as we know it.

Q Thinking back to your first day in HR, what core belief has shaped your leadership journey until today?

I didn’t start my career in HR — I came from the world of non-profit, sales, and business development. I entered HR almost by accident, but what struck me from day one — and still drives me today — is the belief that people are not just employees; they are multipliers of purpose and performance.

My early work exposed me to the power of empathy and mission, and in HR I found the platform to align business outcomes with human potential. This belief has shaped the way I lead—anchored in trust, purpose, and practical impact.

Q In your view, what must organisations do differently today to transform their talent into the future-ready leaders their business truly needs?

Organisations must stop treating leadership as a promotion and start cultivating it as a practice. Future-ready leaders won’t emerge from static competency models or outdated succession lists—they’ll emerge from environments that reward adaptability, emotional intelligence, and cross-border thinking.

We must intentionally create “development in the flow of work” and embrace hyper-personalised talent experiences — whether that’s flexible careers, AI-enabled feedback loops, or boundaryless learning. It also means investing in culture — not just skills. Because in the end, the future isn’t just about capabilities, it’s about character. In Essilor Luxottica, we were proud that we were all part of co-creation of our new culture launched in 2023.

Q Looking ahead, which emerging trends do you believe will redefine the role of HR in the next few years?

Three key shifts are redefining HR:

• AI-powered personalisation: From generic L&D to curated, real-time employee journeys driven by data and context.
• The re-humanisation of work: Amid all the tech, there’s a counterforce pushing for meaning, wellbeing, and purpose. HR must be the architect of that balance.
• The rise of the “People-Experience Supply Chain”: Just like supply chains respond to real-time market demand, HR will need to orchestrate talent, experience, and engagement as an integrated, agile ecosystem.

Q As a speaker at #TransformTalentTH, what key message or call-to-action do you hope your session will leave with attendees?

I hope to leave attendees with this:

"Don’t wait for the perfect org structure, the perfect policy, or the perfect AI tool to transform talent. Start where you are — design with empathy, experiment with courage, and partner with the business like never before."

HR today is no longer a back-office function — it’s a creative engine of growth and resilience. Let’s embrace that with boldness and humanity.

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