George Tan: A mix of business and pleasure translates to success

MANILA, Philippines - Behind the success of Netopia is the unwavering commitment of its president and CEO George Tan to provide Filipino gamers and Internet enthusiasts access to the latest Internet-related technology. As a professional manager with a proven track record in the field of technology and telecommunications, Tan was assigned to manage Netopia primarily because he understands the business as an avid gamer like most customers of Netopia.

“I play online games inbetween meetings to take a break and at the same time release some of the tension from work,” he said. “Gaming is what brought me to Netopia, which I’m very proud and happy to be part of.”

As a renowned businessman and competitive gamer, Tan was handpicked to be one of the Windows 7 Icons, each representing different industries and excelling in their chosen fields.

During the Windows 7 launch, the icons each chose a beneficiary who they believe will be empowered by technology and will benefit from receiving a Windows 7-powered laptop.

When asked why he chose Caritas Manila to be his beneficiary, George replied “Fr. Anton Pascual, executive director of Caritas Manila, is a good friend and I support his causes. I’ve seen firsthand how technology improves how organizations operate and I know that having the latest technology will be a big help to the institution. Technology can definitely magnify the good work being done by Fr. Anton and Caritas Manila.”

Caritas Manila is a leading agency for social services and development in Manila. The organization also provides technical assistance to social service and development ministries in five other Metro Manila dioceses.

Microsoft worked with customers and partners around the world to build an operating system which makes it easier for users to do the things they want on a PC. Built with the help of billions of Windows users worldwide, Windows 7 simplifies daily tasks and enables people to get the most out of their PC.

“We continuously listen to consumer feedback to find out what people need from their computers. One of their main concerns is security. With more activities being done online like shopping, gaming and banking, it becomes more necessary for people to protect their privacy and information. The enhanced features of Windows 7 create a secure online experience for users,” said Mae Moreno, Windows Client Product Manager, Microsoft Philippines.

Being a heavy computer user himself, George was most pleased about the new features that Windows 7 offers. “The increased speed and efficiency of Microsoft’s latest operating system allows me to switch from work to play mode in a snap. One of the impressive features that comes with Windows 7 is the InPrivate Browsing feature of Internet Explorer 8, which protects my private information. It’s a smart feature for gamers like me who are always online and need extra protection for their passwords,” he shared.

“To be a part of the Pay It Forward campaign is such an honor for me. Microsoft and Netopia have had a long and fruitful partnership in empowering Filipinos through technology, and I’m proud to be carrying on with this mission through the project. It is always rewarding for me to give back in any way that I can,” George concluded.

“We could not be happier to have Netopia’s George Tan on board for this project. We hope that this will raise awareness about the power of technology and demonstrate that computers are not only for games but also tools for productivity,” said Moreno.