Banner Banner
  • Home
  • Our Story

Board of Directors


Kwek Leng Beng
Kwek Leng Beng

Executive Chairman

Mr Kwek has extensive experience in the real estate business. He joined City Developments Limited (CDL) in the late 1960s and since then has contributed significantly to building CDL’s six decades of track record. He grew the Group’s hospitality arm and has been actively involved in its development into Singapore’s largest international hotel group and one of the largest hotel owners and operators in the world. He also has extensive experience in the finance business, having grown with the original Hong Leong Finance Limited from day one, which has since merged its finance business with Singapore Finance Limited (now known as Hong Leong Finance Limited). He is also experienced in the trading and manufacturing sectors.

Mr Kwek has received numerous accolades. In 1997, he was named “Businessman of the Year 1996” by Singapore Business Awards, organised by The Business Times and DHL. In 2012, he was jointly awarded the “Partners in the Office of the CEO” award in the Brendan Wood International – Securities Investors Association Singapore (SIAS) TopGun CEO Designation Award with the late Mr Kwek Leng Joo (former Deputy Chairman of CDL). This award is given to CEOs who are best in class as rated by shareholders. In 2014, he received the inaugural Real Estate Developers’ Association of Singapore (REDAS) Lifetime Achievement Award which honours a pioneering group of real estate leaders.

He received the Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCCI) SG50 Outstanding Chinese Business Pioneers Award in 2015. The award honours the Republic’s outstanding Chinese business pioneers and their exemplary contributions to nation-building. That same year, he was accorded the Lifetime Achievement Award from Hotel Investment Conference Asia Pacific (HICAP). This accolade honours exceptional individuals who have distinguished themselves through accomplishments and contributions to the hotel industry.

In 2017, he was presented the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Asia Pacific Entrepreneurship Awards organised by Enterprise Asia, a regional non-governmental organisation for entrepreneurship. The award was in recognition of outstanding achievements, visionary leadership and steadfast dedication that led to the successful growth of the Hong Leong Group for over five decades. That same year, he clinched the inaugural Global Blue Ocean Shift Award, given at the Global Entrepreneurship Community Summit in Kuala Lumpur. Mr Kwek was awarded the Singapore Tatler Diamond Award (Lifetime Achievement) 2018, in recognition of his exceptional leadership that led Hong Leong Group to grow into a globally diversified enterprise.

In 2020, Mr Kwek received on behalf of Hong Leong Group, the EY Family Business Award of Excellence. It celebrated the Group’s successful, sustainable and long-term oriented strategy, effective and transparent corporate governance approach, and significant socio-economic contributions.

Mr Kwek holds a law degree, LL.B. (London) and is also a fellow of The Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators. He was also conferred an Honorary Doctorate of Business Administration in Hospitality from Johnson & Wales University (Rhode Island, US) and an Honorary Doctorate from Oxford Brookes University (UK).

Note:
Hong Leong Investment Holdings Pte. Ltd. is the immediate and ultimate holding company of CDL. Hong Leong Finance Limited is a related company under the Hong Leong Group of companies. Millennium & Copthorne Hotels Limited is a subsidiary of CDL.

First appointment as Director
  • 1 October 1969
Appointment as Executive Chairman
  • 1 January 1995
Last re-election as Director
  • 28 April 2022
Board committees
  • Nominating Committee (Member)
Present directorships in other listed companies* and principal commitments
  • Hong Leong Finance Limited* (Chairman/Managing Director)
  • Hong Leong Investment Holdings Pte. Ltd. (Executive Chairman)
  • Millennium & Copthorne Hotels Limited (Executive Chairman)
Other appointments
  • Singapore Hotel Association (Member)
  • Singapore Institute of Directors (Fellow)
Past directorships in other listed companies* and principal commitments held in the preceding five years
  • Millennium & Copthorne Hotels plc* (Non-Executive Chairman) (delisted and privatised in 2019 and now known as Millennium & Copthorne Hotels Limited)

Sherman Kwek Eik Tse
Sherman Kwek Eik Tse

Executive Director

Group Chief Executive Officer

Mr Kwek assumed his current role as Group Chief Executive Officer in January 2018 after serving as CEO-designate from August 2017. He was appointed as an Executive Director of CDL in May 2019 and concurrently holds the position of Executive Chairman of CDL China Limited since 2016. Mr Kwek was previously the Deputy CEO and Chief Investment Officer of CDL. He joined CDL in August 2010 as the CEO of CDL China Limited.

Prior to joining CDL, Mr Kwek was the CEO of City e-Solutions Limited, a Hong Kong-listed company that was formerly a subsidiary of CDL Group and engaged in the provision of hotel management and electronic distribution services to the global hospitality industry. Mr Kwek was also formerly the Chief Operating Officer of Thakral Corporation Ltd. and an Executive Director of HL Global Enterprises Limited, both listed companies in Singapore. In the earlier part of his career, he had worked in venture capital, investment banking, hospitality management and real estate private equity.

In 2020, Mr Kwek was appointed to the Board of Trustees of the Chinese Development Assistance Council (CDAC), a non-profit self-help group for the Chinese community, and in 2021, he was appointed as a Member of the SingHealth Property Committee of Singapore Health Services Pte Ltd. In October 2022, he was also appointed as a Member of the Advisory Board for the National Youth Achievement Award and as a Member of Business China’s FutureChina Committee and Go East Committee.

Mr Kwek had previously served as a Council Member of the Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCCI) for nine years until he relinquished the position in March 2022. As a nominee of SCCCI to the board of Business China, he also stepped down from this role in September 2022 but was reappointed to the two committees within Business China mentioned above. He was also formerly a member of the Council for Board Diversity and a board member of the Building and Construction Authority (BCA).

He graduated from Boston University, USA with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, majoring in Finance and Marketing with a minor in Psychology.

First appointment as Director
  • 15 May 2019
Last re-election as Director
  • 28 April 2022
Board committees
  • Board Sustainability Committee (Chairman)
Present directorships in other listed companies* and principal commitments
  • IREIT Global Group Pte. Ltd. (As manager of IREIT Global*) (Director)
  • CDL China Limited (Executive Chairman)
Other appointments
  • Chinese Development Assistance Council (CDAC) (Board of Trustees)
  • Singapore Health Services Pte Ltd (Member of SingHealth Property Committee)
  • National Youth Achievement Award (Member of Advisory Board)
  • Business China FutureChina Committee (Member)
  • Business China Go East Committee (Member)
Past directorships in other listed companies* and principal commitments held in the preceding five years
  • Nil

Lee Jee Cheng Philip
Lee Jee Cheng Philip

Lead Independent Director

Mr Lee has more than 35 years of experience in accounting and finance. He was admitted into the partnership of KPMG Singapore in 1995 where he served as an audit partner until his retirement in September 2018. During his time at KPMG, Mr Lee had served on the leadership team in KPMG Singapore and on the executive team at KPMG Asia Pacific. In addition, he was the Head of Real Estate, Investment Banking, Private Banking and the Head of an Audit Business Unit. He was also the Head of People and led KPMG to various HR Awards.

Mr Lee is also an independent non-executive director at ComfortDelGro Corporation Limited, a Member of the Governing Council of Singapore Agro-Food Enterprises Federation Limited and a Board Member of Tech For Good Institute Limited.

Mr Lee is a Fellow of the Institute of Singapore Chartered Accountants and of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants, United Kingdom, and a member of the Singapore Institute of Directors.

First appointment as Director
  • 4 January 2021
Last re-election as a Director
  • 30 April 2021
Board committees
  • Audit & Risk Committee (Chairman)
  • Nominating Committee (Member)
  • Remuneration Committee (Member)
Present directorships in other listed companies* and principal appointments
  • ComfortDelGro Corporation Limited* (Director, Audit and Risk Committee Chairman, Nominating and Remuneration Committee Member and Digitalisation Committee Member)
Other appointments
  • Singapore Agro-Food Enterprises Federation Limited (Governing Council Member)
  • Tech For Good Institute Limited (Board Member)
Past directorships in other listed companies* and principal commitments held in the preceding five years
  • KPMG LLP (Partner)

Philip Yeo Liat Kok
Philip Yeo Liat Kok

Non-Independent Non-Executive Director

Mr Yeo is the Chairman of Economic Development Innovations Singapore Pte Ltd (EDIS) which provides strategic advice and undertakes the development and management of integrated industrial and urban areas with an emphasis on job creation and industrial cluster development. He is also an independent Director of Sunway Berhad and QAF Limited, which are listed on Bursa Malaysia and Singapore Exchange Securities Trading Limited (“SGX-ST”) respectively.

Mr Yeo received the Singapore Public Administration Medal (Silver) in 1974, the Public Administration Medal (Gold) in 1982, the Meritorious Service Medal in 1991 and the Order of Nila Utama (First Class), Singapore’s most prestigious National Day Awards in 2006. He also received the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Star from Government of Japan (2007) and the Distinguished Service (Star) award from the Singapore Labour Movement, National Trade Union Congress (2008).

Mr Yeo holds a Bachelor of Applied Science (Industrial Engineering), an honorary Doctorate in Engineering from the University of Toronto, Canada, an honorary Doctorate in Medicine from the Karolinska Institutet, Sweden, a Master of Science (Systems Engineering) from the University of Singapore, a Master of Business Administration from Harvard University, USA, a Doctor of Science from Imperial College, London, an honorary Doctor of Letters from National University of Singapore and an honorary Doctor of Law from Monash University of Australia.

First appointment as Director
  • 11 May 2009
Last re-election as Director
  • 26 April 2023
Board committees
  • Nil
Present directorships in other listed companies* and principal commitments
  • Economic Development Innovations Singapore Private Limited (EDIS) (Chairman)
  • Accuron Technologies Limited (Chairman)
  • Advanced MedTech Holdings Pte. Ltd. (Chairman)
  • Sunway Berhad* (Director)
  • QAF Limited* (Director)
Other appointments
  • Nil
Past directorships in other listed companies* and principal commitments held in the preceding five years
  • Hitachi Ltd* (Independent Director)
  • Kerry Logistics Network Limited* (Independent Director)
  • Spring Singapore
  • Baiterek National Managing Holding JSC, Kazachtan

Ong Lian Jin Colin
Ong Lian Jin Colin

Independent Non-Executive Director

Mr Ong is the Founder of Advisors’ Clique and Executive Senior Director of Great Eastern Financial Advisers, a position he has held since 2011. A veteran in the financial services industry with more than 30 years of experience, he has achieved the Million Dollar Round Table (MDRT) 28 times since 1993 and achieved the Top of the Table in 2020 and 2022. He is also a member of its prestigious MDRT Quarter Century Club.

Mr Ong was a recipient of the Centennial Award by Great Eastern Life in 2008, an accolade awarded during its 100th anniversary in recognition of his contributions to the company. He was conferred the IBF Fellow award from the Institute of Banking and Finance and was named Asia’s Inspirational Leader of the Year by the Asia Insurance Review in 2015.

Mr Ong holds a Bachelor of Arts & Social Sciences from the National University of Singapore. He is also a Chartered Life Underwriter and Chartered Financial Consultant.

First appointment as Director
  • 7 October 2020
Last re-election as a Director
  • 28 April 2022
Board committees
  • Nominating Committee (Chairman)
  • Remuneration Committee (Member)
Present directorships in other listed companies* and principal commitments
  • Great Eastern Financial Advisers (Executive Senior Director)
Other appointments
  • Nil
Past directorships in other listed companies* and principal commitments held in the preceding five years
  • Nil

Daniel Marie Ghislain Desbaillets
Daniel Marie Ghislain Desbaillets

Independent Non-Executive Director

Mr Desbaillets has an extensive portfolio in the hospitality industry with 44 years of experience. Mr Desbaillets was appointed to the Board of Millennium and Copthorne Hotels Limited (prior to its privatisation) in 2016 as an Independent Non-Executive Director and had served in the Audit & Risk, Remuneration and Risk Committees. In 2010, he was the Independent Non-Executive Director of M&C REIT Management Limited, the manager of CDL Hospitality Real Estate Investment Trust (H-REIT) and also of M&C Business Trust Management Limited, the trustee-manager of CDL Hospitality Business Trust (HBT) and had served in the Nominating and Remuneration Committees. Both H-REIT and HBT are comprised as a stapled group in CDL Hospitality Trusts, which is listed on the SGX-ST.

Since 1973, he has been holding senior positions with international hotel chains including InterContinental Hotel Group, Hilton, Shangri-La, Millennium & Copthorne Hotels Group, Fullerton Hotels and Resorts and TCC Hotels Thailand and has worked in various countries around the world. His responsibilities in the Corporate offices included regional hotel operations, finance, marketing, human resource, food & beverage (F&B) and asset management. Currently, Mr Desbaillets is the Executive Chairman of family-owned businesses in the F&B industry, FreshCreation Holdings Pte. Ltd. and Salad Stop Pte. Ltd., which have 75 outlets in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, Vietnam, Thailand and Spain that are owned, franchised and under joint ventures.

He holds a Diploma in Commercial Studies from Ecole Benedict Geneva, Switzerland and a Certificate with Distinction in Service, Food Production and Administration from Lausanne Hotel School, Switzerland.

First appointment as Director
  • 20 November 2020
Last re-election as a Director
  • 26 April 2023
Board committees
  • Board Sustainability Committee (Member)
  • Remuneration Committee (Member)
Present directorships in other listed companies* and principal commitments
  • FreshCreation Holdings Pte. Ltd. (Executive Chairman)
  • Salad Stop Pte. Ltd. (Executive Chairman)
Other appointments
  • Nil
Past directorships in other listed companies* and principal commitments held in the preceding five years
  • Millennium & Copthorne Hotels Limited (Independent Non-Executive Director)(delisted and privatised in 2019 and now known as Millennium & Copthorne Hotels Limited)

Chong Yoon Chou
Chong Yoon Chou

Independent Non-Executive Director

Mr Chong started his career at Aberdeen Standard Investments (Asia) Limited in 1994 as an analyst and fund manager on Asian equities. He was later transferred to Sydney as Head of Australian Equities in 2001. Subsequently, he held roles in London, Edinburgh and Philadelphia as Head of Pan-European Equities and Head of Developed Markets ex-Asia, before returning to Singapore in 2008 as Investment Director where he oversaw equity investments in seven regional offices. He was also the Managing Director of Aberdeen Asset Management Malaysia.

Throughout his stint with the company, Mr Chong was involved in many restructuring initiatives in Australia and Europe whilst spearheading investment teams in various M&A projects such as the acquisition of Edinburgh Fund Managers in 2005, Deutsche Asset Management UK in 2006, Philadelphia Nationwide Financial Service US in 2007 and Credit Suisse Asset Management in 2009. He was also responsible for setting up the group’s research systems and led in transition projects during Europe’s implementation of Markets in Financial Instruments Directive II (MiFID II). Mr Chong’s 29 years of extensive experience in managing assets and funds also included his management of Asian and Emerging market equities at Ostrum Asset Management Asia Ltd, part of the Natixis Investment Management group with USD1 trillion of funds under management.

Mr Chong graduated from the London School of Economics with a Bachelor of Science (Economics) in Accounting & Finance, a Master of Science in Finance and a Master of Science in Information Systems. He is also a Chartered Financial Analyst and has Leadership Development certifications at Harvard Business School and INSEAD. In 2021, he completed the INSEAD International Directors Programme. Mr Chong is also a member of the Singapore Institute of Directors.

First appointment as Director
  • 20 November 2020
Last re-election as a Director
  • 26 April 2023
Board committees
  • Audit & Risk Committee (Member)
  • Nominating Committee (Member)
  • Board Sustainability Committee (Member)
Present directorships in other listed companies* and principal appointments
  • Leanne Capital Pte. Ltd. (Founder/Director)
Other appointments
  • Nil
Past directorships in other listed companies* and principal commitments held in the preceding five years
  • Ostrum Asset Management Asia Ltd. (Chief Investment Officer, Equities)
  • Aberdeen Standard Investments (Asia) Limited (Investment Director)

Chan Swee Liang Carolina (Carol Fong)
Chan Swee Liang Carolina (Carol Fong)

Independent Non-Executive Director

Ms Chan has more than 30 years of experience in investment banking and financial markets. Currently the Group Chief Executive Officer of CGS-CIMB Securities, she is responsible for the overall management and financial performance of the CGS-CIMB Securities group’s equities business, a regional franchise covering Asia Pacific (ex-Japan), as well as offices in London and New York. Ms Chan is also a board member of Leukemia & Lymphoma Foundation.

Before this, she was the Singapore country Investment Banking CEO of CIMB Group, where she was responsible for building up their investment banking business and management of key client and regulator relationships in Singapore.

Ms Chan’s career began at Oversea-Chinese Banking Corporation and she has since held several senior managerial positions in various stockbroking firms. She is also currently the Chairman of the Singapore Exchange Securities Advisory Committee and is also appointed as Lead Independent Director of mainboard-listed Genting Singapore Limited.

Ms Chan was conferred the IBF Distinguished Fellow award in 2016. The IBF Distinguished Fellow is a significant role model who serves as a beacon of excellence for the financial industry.

She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the National University of Singapore and a Diploma in Personnel Management from National Productivity Board. Ms Chan also obtained the Executive Diploma in Directorship from Singapore Management University - Singapore Institute of Directors in 2018.

First appointment as Director
  • 29 December 2020
Last re-election as Director
  • 30 April 2021
Board committees
  • Remuneration Committee (Chairman)
  • Audit & Risk Committee (Member)
Present directorships in other listed companies* and principal appointments
  • CGS-CIMB Securities (Singapore) Pte Ltd (Group Chief Executive Officer)
  • Genting Singapore Limited* (Lead Independent Director and Nominating Committee Chairman)
Other appointments
  • Leukemia and Lymphoma Foundation (Board Member and Chairperson, Finance Subcommittee)
  • Singapore Exchange Securities Advisory Committee (Chairman)
Past directorships in other listed companies* and principal commitments held in the preceding five years
  • Nil

Tang Ai Ai Mrs Wong Ai Ai
Tang Ai Ai Mrs Wong Ai Ai

Independent Non-Executive Director

Mrs Wong Ai Ai was previously the Principal in Baker & McKenzie.Wong & Leow until her retirement in July 2023. During her three decades long career with Baker McKenzie (“Firm”), she led a range of landmark transactions for blue-chip clients, and served in global management and leadership roles at the highest levels of the Firm, including serving as a member of Global Executive Committee and chair of the Asia Pacific region.

As a transactional lawyer, Mrs Wong was recognised as a leading individual and eminent practitioner for corporate/M&A matters by publications including Chambers Asia Pacific, Legal 500 Asia Pacific and IFLR1000.

Mrs Wong was a founding steering committee member of Climate Governance Singapore Limited (now known as CG Sing), an initiative led by World Economic Forum to educate non-executive directors on the opportunities and challenges for their companies arising from climate change and its consequences. She stepped down as a Director of CG Sing in October 2023.

Mrs Wong is a Justice of the Peace, a member of the Public Service Commission’s Disciplinary Panel of Persons and a member of the Board of Visiting Judges (BOVJ) and Board of Inspection (BOI) appointed by the Ministry of Home Affairs, Singapore.

She graduated from the University of Kent, with a Bachelor of Arts in Law First Class Honours, and holds a Master of Law from Harvard University Law School. She is admitted to practice in Singapore, New York, England and Wales (Grays Inn).

First appointment as Director
  • 1 January 2022
Last re-election as Director
  • 28 April 2022
Board committees
  • Board Sustainability Committee (Member)
  • Nominating Committee (Member)
Present directorships in other listed companies* and principal commitments
  • Nil
Other appointments
  • Justice of the Peace
  • Singapore Tourism Board (Director)
  • PSA International Pte Ltd (Director)
Past directorships in other listed companies* and principal commitments held in the preceding five years
  • Baker & McKenzie.Wong & Leow (Principal)
  • Baker McKenzie (Member of Global Executive Committee and Chair of Asia Pacific Region)
  • Singapore Tyler Print Institute (Board Member)
  • Yellow Ribbon Fund (Chairman)

Tan Kian Seng
Tan Kian Seng

Independent Non-Executive Director

Mr Tan has extensive experience in the hospitality and manufacturing sectors, having held various senior positions in international businesses. He had served on the boards of companies listed in SGX-ST, London Stock Exchange, New Zealand Stock Exchange and Philippines Stock Exchange. Mr Tan also has diverse management experience in Finance, Legal, Investor Relations, Business Development, Human Resource and Information Technology in various corporations and regions including South East Asia, China, United Kingdom and United States of America.

Mr Tan joined M&C as Group Chief of Staff in October 2016 and held several senior executive level positions in various functions and jurisdictions until he retired as the interim Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) of M&C at end 2019. During his tenure at M&C, he was a Non-Executive Director of Millennium & Copthorne Hotels New Zealand Limited and CDL Investments New Zealand Limited, both of which are listed on the New Zealand Stock Exchange and served as the President, Chairman of the board and a member of the Nominating Committee of Grand Plaza Hotel Corporation, which is listed in the Philippines.

Prior to joining M&C Group, he served as an advisor to the CEO and Chairman of Venture Corporation Limited (“Venture”), a company listed on the SGX-ST. Mr Tan joined Venture in 2001 and held senior roles in various jurisdictions, including the Vice President of Operations in Malaysia until February 2006, Chief Financial Officer until February 2012 and Group President from 2011 until February 2016.

Mr Tan holds a Diploma of Accountancy from Leeds Beckett University. He is an Associate of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales and a member of the Malaysian Institute of Accountants.

First appointment as Director
  • 10 March 2023
Last re-election as Director
  • 26 April 2023
Board committees
  • Audit & Risk Committee (Member)
Present directorships in other listed companies* and principal commitments
  • Nil
Other appointments
  • Nil
Past directorships in other listed companies* and principal commitments held in the preceding five years
  • CDL Investments New Zealand Limited*
  • First Sponsor Group Limited*
  • Grand Plaza Hotel Corporation*
  • Millennium & Copthorne Hotels New Zealand Limited*
  • Millennium & Copthorne Hotels plc (delisted and privatised in 2019 and now known as Millennium & Copthorne Hotels Limited) ("M&C")

Last updated 20 November 2023

More About Us
Back to Top

This website uses cookies. By clicking 'Accept' or continuing to browse the website, you agree to our use of cookies to process your personal data and personalise your online experience. Learn more about our Privacy Policy.