CONTINUING THE LEGACY — Young, dynamic Brennan S. Lim is on deck at Legado Motors
‘You just have to take care of the employees and in turn, the employees will take care of the company’
BRENNAN S. Lim wants to make sure he has all bases covered when he finally takes over further down the road. After all, Legado means legacy. | photograph by Marc Anthony Reyes for the Daily Tribune
On the modified "party bus" back to Manila, Brennan S. Lim would spring up front from the sectional at the back where he was seated.
He needed to make instructions to the driver, up he went. The coolers shifted from a big turn, don't worry he's got it. Somebody had to check a loud hissing sound, he was there too, in no time.
Through the media drive for Dongfeng cars in Ilocos Sur, Lim would stay in the background and be the quiet force as motoring journalists tried out their best-selling electric and hybrid units.
Hands-on and with keen eye on details, Lim, barely in his 30s, hardly acts like he's the deputy CEO of the family-owned Legado Motors Inc.
Yet you'd know he's learning the ropes one small task at a time.
"It's a trial by fire, actually," Lim said jokingly when the DAILY TRIBUNE asked when he got his big start.
In 2018, Legado acquired distributorship of GAC Motors here in the country. His first assignment there was in the dealership side.
"There I handled dealership. Kulang na lang ako mismo magbenta ng kotse (I practically had to sell cars literally myself)."
That hard work and dedication — made even remarkable for someone who is son of the CEO and grandson of the chairman — enabled their GAC dealership on Ortigas Avenue, to become the biggest in the country in terms of sales.
Among the biggest headaches he had back then was the public's general misgivings about China-made vehicles.
"Back then when we post on Facebook, eight out of 10 comments were bashers," Lim said.
The strategy they used was they lend out the cars three to four days. He added: "If you like it great, if not it's okay. At least you were able to try the car. Just don't hack it till you tried it."
"These are beautiful, high-quality cars. Now seeing how our sales grow steadily. Seeing all the numbers, it validates our approach."