Two Is Better Than One

Two is better than one and a happy smile can be achieved with a twin set of healthy chompers — just ask Bassam Abdel-Rahman and Marc Torras Larson, the senior vice president of marketing and managing director for Zenyum.

- Bryan Goh

HELLO MARC AND BASSAM, HOW WAS IT LIKE GOING FROM DOING GLOBAL BRANDS OF TECHNOLOGY AND TRANSPORT TO HELPING PEOPLE ACHIEVE BETTER, HAPPIER SMILES? WAS THERE A SPECIFIC REASON BOTH OF YOU JOINED ZENYUM?

Marc: “The Smile Cosmetics” industry that we are building is fascinating as it mixes health with technology and beauty. I was instantly attracted to the company but what made the difference was the intention of the founders and how they lived their values. For instance, both founders seemed to think I was a great candidate but they insisted that my team members would be the key decision makers. I was grilled by my team (and they did for three hours post-flight from Barcelona to Singapore). It meant that we are going to make Asia smile more while living our values — something I had not felt in the previous tech companies I worked for.

Bass: The way I see it, we are still working on a global brand at Zenyum. For 15 years I have had the privilege of working with some of the world’s biggest brands while enjoying the impact and power they had on shaping popular culture. The real joy for me now comes from putting in the work to build a new, purposeful and long-lasting brand from day zero. We’re Asia’s biggest beauty brand in the making.

WHAT HAVE YOU PARTICULARLY NOTICED ABOUT SINGAPOREANS’ TAKE ON ORAL CARE STANDARDS?

Marc: The standards in Singapore are really high. Singapore has a great network of dentists and clinics, and the customers here are savvy and aware of all their options. We believe we have become market leaders as customers weigh the options that are available and often choose dental treatments carried out by professionals who never compromise on quality.