Dato’ (Dr.) David Leo | CEO
Dato’ (Dr.) David Leo (拿督梁大伟) is the Founder and CEO of FMCG distribution company, DLG Holdings Sdn Bhd which distributes F&B, household products, apparel, fragrances and stationary. He manages distribution networks involving domestic and international trade.
He is also the Director of Scientific R&D Sdn Bhd, a F&B manufacturing plant based in Kuala Lumpur. With his British, Chinese and Asian ancestry (Eurasian) and his upbringing in Malaysia, David Leo is a citizen of the world, which fully reflects in his creations.
In 2015, David was conferred with the prestigious Darjah Indera Mahkota Pahang (DIMP) award, which officially carries the title of Dato’ in recognition of his contribution to the society, state and country.
David is a member of MENSA, an exclusive High IQ Society for individuals with an IQ in the top 2% of the population. MENSA is the largest and oldest High IQ Society founded in Oxford, England in 1946. David is deeply honoured, having the opportunity to connect with highly intelligent and gifted individuals. David has an impressive level of IQ and is also known for his extraordinary linguistic talent since childhood.
From a background in FMCG, manufacturing and property investment, he also spent some years in Life Coaching which is to help others transform their inner well being into something more empowering. David is a Certified Practitioner of Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP), Approved by the American Board of NLP, USA. The contribution of NLP to Life Coaching has a worldwide reputation. Upon his noble efforts and contributions in helping thousands of people to grow through leadership, life and health coaching, he was awarded an Honorary Doctorate from the US.
He later ventured into the field of wine & spirits and achieved top credentials like WSET (London, UK) and Certified Specialist of Wine (CSW, USA). Wine & Spirit Education Trust, often referred to as WSET, is a global Awarding Body recognized by the UK Government, including the respected British Accreditation Council (BAC). David holds the WSET Award in Wines & Spirits (Advanced) which entitles the use of the Associated WSET Certified Advanced logo. In French wine specialization, he accomplished with Highest Honors in French Wine Scholar (FWS) and Bordeaux-Master Level from Wine Scholar Guild which is endorsed by the French Ministry of Agriculture.
In early 2017, he was featured in two English-language newspapers, The Star Malaysia and The Straits Times Singapore for inventing the world’s first Malaysian made White Coffee Red Wine. (Featured in The Star, The Straits Times and leading European drinks trade publication, The Drinks Business in 2017)
Over the years, he expanded into the field of premium and healthy snacks as demand in this business segment has reflected a steady rise over the last decade. During this time, he struck an idea of creating bitesized fusion flavoured lentil crisp served in a resealable ziplock pouch. He also markets premium Korean snacks to domestic and international markets.
On the leisure side, David has a passion for traveling and supercars. He owns a Lamborghini and is also a member of Lamborghini Owners Malaysia (LOM)
THE JOURNEY
- By 2022, David Leo is one of the most outstanding entrepreneurs under 40 in Asia
- In recent years, he has become an active investor in various fields and key areas.
- Passionate about the welfare of others, he is also involved in philanthropy, which is to help the needy and society as a whole.
- Honorific Award – In 2015, awarded the Darjah Indera Mahkota Pahang (DIMP) which carries the title of Dato’
- Made his entrepreneurial path a great success, starting from wholesaling to distribution and eventually moving on to the manufacturing industry as well. David, would like to express thanks to his great team as he is truly grateful for their efforts and dedication for going the extra mile all these years. He also ventured with a group of experienced life coaches to provide online coaching on a global scale.
- Accorded Top Innovative Entrepreneur Award 2013
- Awarded an Honorary Doctorate (USA)
- Attended NLP Training (USA)
- Considered by many as an innovative sommelier, due to his unique ideas and extensive expertise in Wine.
- Attended Wine & Spirit Professional Education (London, UK)(Washington, DC, USA)
- Member of MENSA International
- Attended University in Pennsylvania, USA.
- Before embarking on the entrepreneurial journey, he worked as a salesmen supplying household products such as fragrances, soaps, detergents and etc. For a brief period of time, he even picked up other jobs such as retail merchandiser, customer service executive and production plant manager.
- A science stream student since high school, he came to a realization that he was actually interested in the business world particularly in running a business and wanted to pursue the entrepreneurial path instead.
- Attended public school (SK/SMK) and later went on to college in Malaysia.
- His paternal grandfather was a Chinese immigrant who came from Hainan, China. His maternal great grandfather came from Great Britain in 1921.
- Born and grew up in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
The city of Machu Picchu in Peru which flourished for just over a hundred years between the mid-15th and mid-16th centuries is rightly famous for its intricate, masterful stonemasonry. It was built by the Incas who adopted superior engineering and innovation even at such ancient times. Proper drainage infrastructure, slope stabilization, and above all, an overarching vision.
PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS
AND MEMBERSHIPS
