A message from the CEO

It has been a meaningful year for us at Deloitte Southeast Asia (SEA), and it is timely that we take this opportunity to take stock of our achievements.

Deloitte SEA was formed in 2006 and since then, we have grown remarkably in both size and scale. Financial Year 2023 (FY23) was yet another successful chapter in our journey, as we reached our revenue milestone of becoming a USD 1 billion organisation. This significant achievement is a testament to our unwavering commitment to our Purpose — to make an impact that matters. We put our people first; we place our clients at the centre; and we support our local communities.

This report showcases the dedication and expertise of our people in FY23 that allowed us to stay true to our Purpose. It also highlights how our multidisciplinary business model has differentiated us from our competitors, empowering us to serve our clients with distinction with a diverse set of capabilities to meet their increasingly complex needs.

Additionally, over the past year, we have supported organisations in embedding climate action in the fundamentals of their business operations, while navigating complex environmental, social and governance (ESG) regulations. We also ensured that digital transformation remained a critical priority in every layer of their business, and have helped companies across the region become stronger, more resilient and better equipped to manage uncertainties.

Looking to the future, the stage is set for success. Southeast Asia is on a growth trajectory and the economic corridors in the Asia Pacific region present many opportunities for us to serve our local, regional and global clients. Our agility and nimbleness will play a pivotal role in supporting our clients in areas such as digitalisation, cloud, sustainability, forensics and cybersecurity. Our regional centres of excellence are part of strategic investments that will help us deliver more seamlessly on cross-border engagements and open doors for our people.

At Deloitte, the growth of our business is intrinsically linked to the development and support of our people — we have over 13,000 talents across Southeast Asia. We are committed to equipping our people with the relevant skills to stay at the forefront of the knowledge frontier and providing them with the experience of working with different cultures across the region and the wider Asia Pacific. We also empower our people through new ways of working and offer them world-class learning and development programs and quality coaching.

Notably, we have strengthened the reskilling and upskilling programs at our Deloitte training centres and have specially curated a variety of courses on our online platforms that allow our people to carve their careers to align with their aspirations.

We recognise that workplace culture is very important for the wellbeing of our people. Our goal is to cultivate a dynamic culture of inclusion, collaboration and high performance, guided by our Shared Values. This includes advancing gender balance and inclusivity across our organisation and placing a strong emphasis on wellness and mental health.

Ultimately, we want to work collectively to be strong and resilient so that we can thrive in a changing world.

Despite the uncertainties in the regional and global landscapes, I am optimistic about our future. Guided by our Purpose and Shared Values, we will forge ahead together towards our goal to be in a ‘Class of One’ – the undisputed leader in professional services in Southeast Asia.

Eugene Ho
Chief Executive Officer
Deloitte Southeast Asia

As we look back on FY23, we can proudly say that it has been an exceptional year for Deloitte SEA as we continue to fulfil our Purpose of making an impact that matters for our people, our clients and our communities.

FY23 also marked the end of my tenure as Deloitte SEA CEO. It has been an honour to serve in this pivotal role over the past seven years. While on this amazing journey, I was privileged to work and collaborate with many highly talented people. Together, we have achieved significant milestones, and I am grateful for the strong support given by our dedicated staff, esteemed clients as well as various other stakeholders. 

Last year was an eventful year and this report captures the many stories of our Purpose in action. It showcases how we actively sought opportunities to contribute, uplift and lead in the communities where we operate. 

At the core of our efforts is WorldImpact, our global portfolio of initiatives focused on making a tangible impact on society’s biggest challenges and creating a more sustainable and equitable world.

A prominent facet of WorldImpact is WorldClass — an initiative that aims to improve educational outcomes, develop job skills and expand opportunities for 100 million people worldwide by 2030.

In the spirit of our WorldClass ambition, we actively encourage our people to volunteer their knowledge and skills to support underserved youth in realising their potential and expanding their employment opportunities.

Through innovative approaches and training opportunities, we are empowering the next generation to thrive in the modern economy. Our wide-ranging training programs equip young people with entrepreneurial skills and the fundamentals of running successful businesses. 

Throughout FY23, these efforts were among the more than 16,000 hours of volunteer and pro bono work that our people generously contributed, alongside Deloitte SEA’s more than USD 2.7 million worth of community investments. 

Beyond our community contributions, we are dedicated to protecting the environment through WorldClimate and achieving net zero with 2030 goals. We recognise that mitigating climate change is a big task, and we believe that we need to work collectively with our people, our clients and communities to create solutions that can effect change and steer us towards a low-carbon economy for the betterment of the world we live in. 

Particularly noteworthy is our active engagement with our people in our workplaces — we empower them to make climate-conscious choices both at home and at work. This includes our participation in the annual Earth Month, in April, when our offices across the region organise various activities to raise climate awareness and inspire positive action among our people and clients. 

The passing of the baton to the next generation of leadership is always significant and filled with excitement as we look towards the next chapter. I am confident that the new Deloitte SEA Executive Committee, led by Deloitte SEA CEO Eugene Ho, has the energy and experience to drive transformation, capitalise on opportunities and address the challenges to lead Deloitte SEA to even greater heights.

Even as we anticipate challenges amid an uncertain economic landscape in FY24, we believe firmly in the resilience and agility of our people, and our relationships with our clients and stakeholders. By working collaboratively, I am positive that we will continue to deliver Purpose-led projects that will impact our local communities and make our world a better place to live and work.

Philip Yuen
Chair
Deloitte Southeast Asia