Governance

Board of Directors

  • Dr Shi Xu

    Founder and Executive Chairman

    Dr Shi Xu is responsible for charting the technological roadmap, corporate direction, and business strategies of our Group. He founded our Group in 1999 and has led its growth as the Chief Executive Officer from 1999 to 2017 and 22 June 2021 to 31 December 2021 (Interim), as the Executive Chairman since 2018, and as our Director since 1999.

    Dr Shi has his roots in research and academia, and he was previously a Lecturer (from 1991 to 1993), Senior Lecturer (from 1993 to 1996) and Associate Professor (from 1996 to 1999) at the Nanyang Technological University. Dr Shi graduated from Tongji University with a Bachelor of Science (Physics), and went on to obtain his Doctor of Philosophy (Physics) from the University of Reading. He has earned numerous accolades, including the EY Entrepreneur of the Year (Singapore) received in 2017 from Ernst and Young, the Innovation Award received in 2001 from the Economic Development Board, the National Technology Award received in 2000 from the National Science and Technology Board (now known as A*STAR) and the Businessman of the Year, Singapore Business Awards received in 2021 from the Business Times and DHL Express.

  • Mr Gary Ho Hock Yong

    Executive Director and Group Chief Executive Officer

    Mr Gary Ho Hock Yong succeeded to the role of Group Chief Executive Officer from 1 January 2022. His responsibilities involve managing the overall operations and resources, including planning and implementing the strategic direction of our Group. Mr Ho joined our Group as Chief Marketing Officer on 2 January 2018 and was subsequently re-designated as Chief Commercial Officer on 1 August 2020. As Chief Commercial Officer, he oversaw our Group’s commercial strategy and development activities. Mr Ho also served as Deputy Chief Executive Officer from June 2021 to December 2021 where he supported the overall management of the Group’s operations. On 6 July 2021, Mr Ho was appointed Executive Director of the Company.

    Mr Ho started his career with Hi-P International Limited in 1996, where he served multiple roles until his departure in 2016. His roles in Hi-P International Limited include Chief Operating Officer (Greater China Business Unit), Chief Operating Officer (Operations and Supply Chain), Managing Director (Corporate Business Development) and Managing Director (Wireless Strategic Business Unit).

    Mr Ho holds a Diploma in Production Technology from the German Singapore Institute, and also a Master of Business Administration from the University of Roehampton. Mr Ho has completed The Cambridge Senior Management Programme - Cohort 5, 2022 by the University of Cambridge Judge Business School.

  • Ms Ong Siew Koon @ Ong Siew Khoon

    Lead Independent Director

    Ms Ong Siew Koon @ Ong Siew Khoon was appointed as an Independent Director of our Company on 9 October 2020 and redesignated as Lead Independent Director with effect from 14 May 2021.

    She started her career with Ernst & Young LLP in 1982, where she rose to become Partner from 1998 to 2019. Ms Ong also concurrently served as the Chief Financial Officer of Ernst & Young LLP in Singapore from 2002 to 2005.

    Currently she is also the Lead Independent Director of Karooooo Limited, listed on Nasdaq and also the Lead Independent Director of Maribank Singapore Private Limited.

    Ms Ong graduated from the National University of Singapore with a Bachelor of Accountancy and is a Chartered Accountant of Singapore with more than 35 years of experience in this profession.

  • Mr Kristian John Robinson

    Independent Director

    Mr Kristian John Robinson was appointed as an Independent Director of our Company on 9 October 2020.

    He is presently the Managing Director of Spruson & Ferguson (Asia) Pte Ltd, a role he has held since 2012 and one which has seen him expand its footprints into various Intellectual Property markets in Asia (including Hong Kong, SAR, Bangkok, Thailand and Jakarta, Indonesia). Mr Robinson has, in this capacity, worked with IPH Limited (the listed holding company of Spruson & Ferguson companies) as its key management person. Mr Robinson has held various roles in Spruson & Ferguson companies since 2003, and this most notably includes the role of Principal and Head of Chemical and Life Science from 2005 to 2011.

    Mr Robinson is a registered Patent Attorney in Singapore, Australia and New Zealand and has more than 25 years of experience in this field. He holds a Bachelor of Engineering (Chemical) (Honours) from Curtin University of Technology, and a Bachelor of Science (Chemistry) from Murdoch University.

  • Ms Lee Lee Khoon

    Independent Director

    Ms Lee Lee Khoon was appointed as an Independent Director of our Company on 9 October 2020.

    Ms Lee was an in-house tax adviser to Kuok (Singapore) Group from 2019 to early 2021. Between 1980 and 2016, she joined Ernst & Young where she held various management positions, including as the ASEAN Business Tax Services Leader and the Lead Partner of a Corporate Tax Group. Ms Lee was with the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore from 1978 to 1980.

    Ms Lee was admitted as a Fellow of CPA Australia in 2004 and as an Accredited Tax Adviser of the Singapore Institute of Accredited Tax Professionals (now known as Singapore Chartered Tax Professionals Limited) in 2010. She is also registered as a Fellow Chartered Accountant of Singapore. Ms Lee graduated from the University of Singapore (now known as the National University of Singapore) in 1978 with a Bachelor of Accountancy.

  • Mr Steve Ghanayem

    Independent Director

    Mr Steve Ghanayem was appointed as an Independent Director of our Company on 1 November 2022.

    Prior to this, he led a long and successful career of over three decades with Applied Materials, Inc. Mr Ghanayem joined Applied Materials in 1989 as a Process Engineer and rose through the ranks, developing and launching new products while leading several different product lines. During his tenure, he and his teams were instrumental in the development and commercialization of many flagship products, some even becoming industry benchmarks. In 2014, Mr Ghanayem, as Group Vice President and General Manager, led the largest business unit in the company at the time, the Transistor and Interconnect Group.

    His last appointment was leading a newly formed Business Unit, the New Markets and Alliances Group, where he served as its Senior Vice President and General Manager. He was responsible for business development and growth in new markets, and Corporate Mergers and Acquisitions. While in that role, he and his team led the program that launched a new R&D facility in the State of New York, the META Center, which was jointly funded with the State. The team also launched a new materials business, and generated revenues for the first time in the company through new business models.

    Mr Ghanayem graduated from the University of California at Berkeley with a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering. He also completed several executive education courses including the UC Berkeley - Nanyang Advanced Management Program.

  • Mr Wan Kum Tho

    Independent Director

    Mr Wan Kum Tho was appointed as an Independent Director of our Company on 14 May 2021. Mr Wan has more than 24 years of experience in the venture capital and private equity investment industry and is currently the Managing Director (Investments, APAC) of Singtel Innov8 Pte Ltd, the corporate venture capital arm of Singtel.

    Prior to joining Singtel Innov8 Pte Ltd, Mr Wan was with Heliconia Capital Management Pte Ltd from 2014 to 2019 where his last held position was Managing Director of Value Creation. From 2010 to 2014, Mr Wan was a management committee member and an Executive Director (Investment) of UOB Venture Management Pte Ltd where he was responsible for evaluating investment recommendations.

    From 2009 to 2010, Mr Wan was with EEMS Asia Pte Ltd as Vice President of Strategic Planning and Administration where he was in charge of rescheduling debt of the Asian operation, cost controlling, fund raising and planning strategic initiatives with private equity investors. From 2005 to 2008, Mr Wan served as Vice President of Finance and Administration EEMS Asia Pte Ltd where he participated in strategic deliberations of EEMS and was responsible for strategic decisions for the financial and overall operation of the company, and establishing management incentive structure.

    Mr Wan is currently an independent non-executive director of AP Oil International Limited and Tat Hong Equipment Services Co, Ltd and an Adjunct Associate Professor at the National University of Singapore Business School. He obtained a Bachelor Degree in Business Administration (Honours) from the National University of Singapore and completed the Berkeley Executive Program offered by the University of California, Berkeley in the U.S.

Board Committees

  • AUDIT COMMITTEE

    Ms Ong Siew Koon @ Ong Siew Khoon (Chair)

    Ms Lee Lee Khoon

    Mr Wan Kum Tho

  • BOARD RISK COMMITTEE

    Mr Wan Kum Tho (Chair)

    Ms Ong Siew Koon @ Ong Siew Khoon

    Mr Steve Ghanayem

    Mr Gary Ho Hock Yong

  • NOMINATING COMMITTEE

    Mr Kristian John Robinson (Chair)

    Ms Ong Siew Koon @ Ong Siew Khoon

    Mr Russell Tham Min Yew

  • REMUNERATION COMMITTEE

    Ms Lee Lee Khoon (Chair)

    Mr Kristian John Robinson

    Mr Russell Tham Min Yew

Management

  • Mr Gary Ho Hock Yong

    Executive Director and Group Chief Executive Officer

    Mr Gary Ho Hock Yong succeeded to the role of Group Chief Executive Officer from 1 January 2022. His responsibilities involve managing the overall operations and resources, including planning and implementing the strategic direction of our Group. Mr Ho joined our Group as Chief Marketing Officer on 2 January 2018 and was subsequently re-designated as Chief Commercial Officer on 1 August 2020. As Chief Commercial Officer, he oversaw our Group’s commercial strategy and development activities. Mr Ho also served as Deputy Chief Executive Officer from June 2021 to December 2021 where he supported the overall management of the Group’s operations. On 6 July 2021, Mr Ho was appointed Executive Director of the Company.

    Mr Ho started his career with Hi-P International Limited in 1996, where he served multiple roles until his departure in 2016. His roles in Hi-P International Limited include Chief Operating Officer (Greater China Business Unit), Chief Operating Officer (Operations and Supply Chain), Managing Director (Corporate Business Development) and Managing Director (Wireless Strategic Business Unit).

    Mr Ho holds a Diploma in Production Technology from the German Singapore Institute, and also a Master of Business Administration from the University of Roehampton. Mr Ho has completed The Cambridge Senior Management Programme - Cohort 5, 2022 by the University of Cambridge Judge Business School.

  • Mr Lim Kian Onn

    Group Chief Financial Officer

    Mr Lim Kian Onn, Kay, is appointed Group Chief Financial Officer since 1 August 2020. He was previously the Senior Financial Controller (Corporate) of our Group since March 2020. Mr Lim is responsible for providing leadership in capital management, investor relations, and finance functions including operational, specialised, business and corporate finance.

    Prior to joining our Group, Mr Lim has held various management positions in the fund management, private equity and investment banking sectors with global and regional financial institutions Credit Suisse, DNB Bank, and OCBC Bank.

    Mr Lim graduated from the Singapore Management University with a Bachelor of Business Management, Summa Cum Laude and a Bachelor of Accountancy, Summa Cum Laude. Mr Lim is a member of the CFA Institute and was a member of the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Singapore.

  • Mr Gian Yi-Hsen

    Group Chief Strategy Officer

    Mr Gian Yi-Hsen joined our Group as Vice President (Strategy & Planning) in May 2021 before serving as Deputy Chief Executive Officer (Strategy & Planning) from June 2021 to December 2021. Mr Gian was appointed as Group Chief Commercial and Strategy Officer with effect from 1 January 2022 and Group Chief Strategy Officer form 15 June 2023. 

    Mr Gian has 20 years of experience in global strategic investment promotion, industry development, technology solutions identification and incubation as well as enterprise transformation. Prior to joining our Group, Mr Gian was with the Economic Development Board of Singapore (“EDB”) from 2001 to 2021 where he served multiple roles, including as its Senior Vice President and Head of Conglomerate from 2018 to 2021 where he led the engagement of large multi-industry industrial conglomerates for EDB whilst at the same time acting as Executive Director of Cleantech & Cities, Infrastructure & Industrial Solutions in 2018. Mr Gian was Regional President of Americas from 2015 to 2018, Director of Industry Identification & Incubation from 2010 to 2015, Chief Information Officer from 2013 to 2015 and Regional Director, Japan and Korea from 2005 to 2010 where his responsibilities included advising on the accounts under his charge on their regional strategy and supporting their respective transformations for growth or focus.

    In 1995, Mr Gian was awarded the EDB-Glaxo Scholarship for studying in Japan and graduated with Bachelor of Electrical and Electronic Engineering from the University of Tokyo in 2001.

  • Mr. Ian Howe

    Group Chief Commercial Officer

    Ian is appointed as the Group Chief Commercial Officer with effect from 15 June 2023. With over 20 years of international and cross-functional management experience in Surface Technologies, Additive Manufacturing, and Powder Metallurgy industries, Ian brings a wealth of experience and expertise to his new role as Group CCO. Throughout his career, he has held management positions in the aerospace, industrial, energy, and automotive sectors, working for renowned companies such as Höganäs, GKN, Oerlikon and Additive Industries. He will be responsible for leading our AMBU, Global Industrial Surface Coatings operations, developing and executing our overall commercial strategy, driving revenue growth, and forging key partnerships.

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