Board of Directors

Lee Swee Keng

Executive Director and Chairman
 

Mr Lee Swee Keng was appointed Director and Executive Chairman of the Company in September 2004. He provides leadership in shaping the Group’s overall business direction and is responsible for overseeing its management, strategic planning, and business development initiatives. With more than 30 years of entrepreneurial experience in China since 1993 and over 40 years in operations and management within the food industry, Mr Lee brings extensive industry knowledge, entrepreneurial expertise and strategic leadership to the Group. His long-standing experience has contributed to the Group’s development and growth, particularly in navigating the evolving business environment and identifying opportunities for sustainable expansion. In recognition of his contributions to the community in Singapore, he was conferred the Public Service Medal (Pingat Bakti Masyarakat, “PBM”) in 2014.

Chen Kaitong

Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer
 

Mr Chen Kaitong is a key founder of the Group and was appointed Director and Chief Executive Officer in December 2008. He also serves as a director of various companies in the Group. Mr Chen is instrumental to the Group’s growth, operations and direction. He is responsible for strategic corporate planning, business development and overseeing the key day-to-day operations. Mr Chen has more than 30 years of experience in the Chinese retail industry. He was involved in the early stages of setting up and running the Group’s first modern department store located in Anxi. He has received many awards for his contributions to the sector. He currently serves as Vice President of the Fujian Federation of Enterprises and Entrepreneurs, Honorary President of the Fujian Modern Commerce, Culture and Tourism Chamber of Commerce, Executive Vice President of Quanzhou Enterprises and Entrepreneurs, and President of the Fujian Chain Operations Association. He also serves as a deputy to the 17th National People’s Congress and other social organizations. In 2008, he was named the first moral model of Quanzhou City by the Quanzhou City Spiritual Civilization Construction Steering Committee; in 2009, he was on the “China Good People” list which was selected by the Secretariat of the Central Civilization Office and the China Civilization Network; in 2016, he was evaluated by the Talent Office of the Quanzhou Municipal Committee of the Communist Party of China as one of the 20 Leading Talents in Enterprise Management in Quanzhou City and was awarded the Best Management Innovation Award for Cross-border Innovation Leaders in China’s Retail Industry by the China Department Store Business Association. In 2018, Chen Kaitong was elected as Quanzhou Economic Figure of the Year 2018 at the Quanzhou Economic Annual Conference jointly sponsored by the Propaganda Department of the Quanzhou Municipal Committee of the Communist Party of China and nine other units.

Yee Chia Hsing

Lead Independent Director
 

Mr Yee Chia Hsing was appointed as an Independent Director on 24 November 2023. He brings over 20 years of experience in the banking, corporate finance, and capital markets sectors. Following his banking career, he headed the health supplements division of an SGX-listed company before serving as Executive Director and CEO of another SGX-listed company with hospitality assets. He currently serves as an Independent Director on the boards of Beng Kuang Marine Limited, Hiap Tong Corporation Limited, Union Gas Holdings Limited, and Yangzijiang Shipbuilding (Holdings) Limited. Active in public service and community welfare, Mr Yee served as a Member of Parliament for Chua Chu Kang GRC (Nanyang Division) from 2015 to 2020. He is a member of the Finance Committee of Ren Ci Hospital, a leading Singapore charity, where he previously served on the Audit Committee. Mr Yee holds a Bachelor of Accountancy (First Class Honours) from Nanyang Technological University, Singapore.

Zou Qige

Independent Director
 

Mr Zou Qige was appointed as an Independent Director of the Company on 24 November 2023. He serves as Chairman of the Remuneration Committee and as a member of both the Audit and Nomination Committees. A licensed PRC lawyer and Partner at AllBright Law Offices, Mr Zou brings over 21 years of legal practice in Shanghai, specialising in corporate investment and financing, mergers & acquisitions, corporate governance, and private equity. Before joining AllBright, Mr Zou was a Partner at Bao Rui Legal (2007-2015), which operated in strategic alliance with a well-known Singapore law firm. Before Bao Rui Legal, Mr Zou was a Partner at Hiways Law Firm based in Shanghai. Having advised numerous Chinese and Singaporean companies on IPOs and dual listings in Singapore and Hong Kong, Mr Zou possesses extensive familiarity with the regulatory and compliance requirements of the SGX. Mr Zou holds a Bachelor of Arts in Legal English and a Master of Laws from East China University of Political Science and Law.

Kho Kewee

Independent Director
 

Mr Kho Kewee was appointed as an Independent Director of the Company in July 2021. He serves as Chairman of the Nominating Committee and as a member of both the Audit and Remuneration Committees. With over 25 years of broad-based experience in investment banking, private equity, venture capital, corporate finance, and business management, spanning a range of industries in the US and Asia-Pacific, Mr Kho is currently focusing on investments and corporate advisory. He is a board member of The Private Museum Limited and previously served on the boards of Lee Metal Group Limited, Courts Asia Limited and MS Holdings Limited. Mr Kho is a Fellow of the Singapore Institute of Arbitrators and a member and Senior Accredited Director of the Singapore Institute of Directors. Mr Kho holds a Bachelor of Science from Indiana University, a Graduate Certificate in International Arbitration from the National University of Singapore, and a Professional Certificate in International Relations and Global Politics from the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy.