MillerKnoll APMEA Racial Equity Team

Meet The Team

Hi there!

MillerKnoll has always been commited to promote a culture of #diversity, #equity, and #inclusion. However, you may have not had a chance to meet the team behind it! So, take a moment to scroll through the MillerKnoll employees that make up the APMEA Racial Equity Team. Get to know who we are, what we do and smile reading some fun facts about us 😊

Elias Azar - CBS Regional Sales Manager MEAI, APMEA Racial Equity Lead

I joined MillerKnoll in August 2021 and I look after CBS in Middle East, Africa and India. On my free time I enjoy cooking, running, scuba diving and traveling to learn about different cultures. In my role as the APMEA Racial Equity Co-Lead, I aim to narrow the gaps between cultures in the region, by giving people a chance to speak up, tell their story and educate us about their specialties. Fun fact: when I was completing my Undergraduate studies, I worked as a part time waiter at a local restaurant and one day I accidently spilled a tray with 6 full glasses of soda on a client. This was one of the most awkward situations, luckily the customer took it with a smile, and I managed to keep my job, but I learned my lesson “the only way to explore your limits is by trying and failing, my limits were 4 cups per tray” 😊

Simona Giacalone - A+D Manager MEA, Marketing + Communications APMEA Racial Equity Team

Hello! Here’s Simona, Architects and Designers Manager for the Middle East and Africa Region. I joined Herman Miller in 2017 in Milan, Italy, where I have been covering the Southern Europe region for 4 years. Last year, in September, I packed my stuff, said “arrivederci” to my family and friends and moved to Dubai! Dubai is the most multicultural and diverse country I have ever been to in my life, so I decided to jump into the role of Marketing and Communication Manager in the APMEA Racial Equity Team. I love mixing up with people from different parts of the world, discover their food, their cultures, their way of thinking. In my free time I love working out, reading, meditate and spend as much time as possible in the nature. I know, Dubai is not the ideal place, but hey, there’s the sea, that’s nature!

Anthony Vishal - Senior Manager, Commercial Support, IBU

I am Anthony Vishal, Senior Commercial Support Manager in IBU India. I have worked with MillerKnoll for the past 11 rewarding years. I look after teams that support Commercial Teams on pre-and-post sales activities. My hobby is drawing cartoons, but I often find myself not sharing many of them widely due to possibly “controversial” content – nonetheless have been sharing more “friendly” cartoons recently about diversity/inclusion.

Justin Xi - Head of Sales, East China, Regional Project Manager APMEA

I have been in the office furniture industry for 16 years and MK for 10 years, looking after the business for East China. From this year, I will be managing the regional projects across APMEA region. I used to play soccer in the past. Today I am a Manchester United fan: my favourite player was Eric Cantona. Fun fact: a lot of people say that I am “a Chinese with a Korean face” 😊

Rishika Gupta (she/her/hers) Gupta - Proposals Writer, Bids & Proposals team at IBU, India. Insights Manager – APMEA Racial Equity Team

Hello everybody, Rishika here! I'm a part of the Commercial Support team at IBU and I primarily support various bids, tenders & proposals and content-related requests for APMEA & Europe. As I complete 1 year at Herman Miller this August, I'd say it's been very enriching to interact & work with cross-functional & multicultural teams globally. In my leisure time, I like to engage in different hobbies & interests such as music, reading, food, cricket, movies & web series, travelling, yoga, learning new words & languages, and nature photography. To fuel my curiosity & get introduced to fresh perspectives, I took up the role of Insights Manager at APMEA Racial Equity Team to learn something new and also share insights about the rich diversity we have across this region.

Vivian Yang - CBS Asia Manager PRC

Hi I’m Vivian Yang. I’m based in Shanghai and have been working with CBS for 6 years and now leading the business in the East and West China. Outside of the work, I’m passionate about workout and travel. I’m good at sports and was once selected to be the Judo athlete of the city. Although not to be a professional athlete finally, with the love for sports, I stood out from the volunteer recruitment with 30,000 competitors and became the volunteer of Beijing 2008 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games.

Zamora dela Cruz de la Cruz - Commercial Support MEA

Hello, Zamora here! I moved to Dubai from the Philippines in 2005. I have been with MillerKnoll for 9 years. I started as receptionist, then changed to Office Administrator and now I recently got promoted as commercial support. Fun fact (and secret talent): I’m a balloon artist! I love decorating balloons with ribbons and colours. Every time I organise an event or birthday party, I create designs using balloons. In my free time, I love baking. Another passion is traveling – the trip I loved the most was visiting Switzerland, such a great, clean and fresh land!

Alan Wong - Business Analyst, HK

My name is Alan Wong. I am the Senior Business Analyst, stationed in Hong Kong. I like playing basketball since I was 14, when my classmates and I formed a basketball team. Our team’s name is called Power Rhinoceros. My number is 12. We have been known each other for more than 20 years. They are and always be my best friends. Also, I have 2 lovely boys. They are now 11 and 12 years old. They mean a lot to me. I hope that they will always be happy and that they will enjoy their life.

Ivan Gong - Senior Finance Manager

I am Ivan Gong. I am part of the Finance team in China, Dongguan Plant. I have worked at MillerKnoll for almost 4 years. I love our company culture, based on diversity and inclusion. I like reading, thinking and riding my bike. Fun fact: I have two young twins, one boy and one girl. I love seeing them talking, thinking, fighting 😊