IT was a love affair with cameras that led Simon Wong to a career at Canon Marketing Malaysia.

Today, even after 20 years with the ­company, his passion for the job and what the brand represents is still going strong.

Now assistant director for the Imaging Communication Products Division, Wong recalls the day he first joined in 1988, one year after Canon first came to Malaysia.

“I wanted to work for Canon ­because I loved photography. I tried to join the camera division as a sales representative, but back then, the company’s set-up in Malaysia was still small and there were no positions open. In my interview with Liew Sip Chon, who’s now our CEO, he asked me if I could go into the calculator and typewriter division first. I took it as a challenge and after a year and a half, I was finally given the opportunity to sell cameras, and that’s what I’ve been doing up to today. I’m now head of the whole camera division.”

Wong’s enthusiasm for the ­company is clear as he talks about the positive outlook for the ­company in the market (“We’re always passionate about being number one, and looking at a 10% yearly growth”) as well as the many accolades won by the brand. But for Wong, the thing really keeping him at the Canon is the love of the job.

“I consider myself very lucky,” he said. “When you yourself are passionate about the job, every day is an exciting new day.”

However, Wong admits that he once left Canon to go into business on his own. “I started a marketing consultant company in 2006, but my heart was always with Canon. After a while I realised that there were too much risks in the ­business and thought of returning to Canon. I found out that there were still things I had to do, and so many tasks I wanted to finish. So late last year, I came back.

“After heading my own ­company and coming back to work for another person, I have a better understanding of the overall business world, instead of seeing it from just one side. It’s enabled me to create new ideas and work better with my staff. And I consider myself very lucky to have had all these experiences.”

Besides instilling loyalty in ­employees like himself, Wong also said that the reason Canon had such a solid brand reputation among consumers is because of the emphasis it places on customer ­relations as well as the ­consistency in coming out with quality ­products.

 “It’s a company that has earned people’s trust,” he said.

Wong is also credited as the ­person responsible for bringing Hongkong actor Simon Yam on board as a Canon brand ­ambassador. Yam has been a well-known spokesman for Canon’s camera range since 1995.

“I think it must be the longest artiste-company relationship in the world,” Wong said.

He explained that he had read Yam mention in an interview that he was a photography buff who used Canon cameras. “I smelled an opportunity,” he added. “I myself initiated the deal. I flew to Hongkong and got in touch with Simon and he agreed. We help promote him, and he helps promote our products. The reason why this has worked out so well is that Simon is a genuine fan of Canon, and knows the products well.”

Wong also gives credit to the people at the forefront of sales, the product dealers. “Canon also works hard at gaining the trust of our business partners, because in the end, we are all working for the greater good.”

However, there is one regret that he has: with all the time spent making Canon number one, he has little time to indulge in his personal passion, photography.

“Sadly, I’m very busy. I have no time to take photographs these days. I’ve always said that this is a 7-11 (24-hour) job.”

Despite the lack of free time, one of the perks is that he gets to try out all the new Canon models.

“I love all the cameras, I don’t have a favourite,” he said. “I have to, ­because it is my job to market them to the people. How can I make them like something if I myself don’t like it?”

Wong is positive about the growth of Canon in Malaysia and hopes that people will continue to put their trust in the brand.

“There are definitely big plans for the future, and it will be ­exciting to show people what we have in store,” he said.