The Singapore Institute of Directors (SID) has appointed Mr Terence Quek as its new Chief Executive Officer (CEO), effective 9 May 2022. Terence will lead the executive team and work closely with the institute’s Governing Council and its Chair, Ms Wong Su-Yen, to realise SID’s plans to expand its membership base, bring greater value to its members, champion good governance, and foster a vibrant governance ecosystem for all directors.
“Boards have the power and responsibility to positively influence the course of their organisations. In an increasingly complex and volatile corporate landscape, Terence’s skillsets and experiences will enable the Singapore Institute of Directors to build on previous efforts and amplify its impact. I look forward to working with him to enhance our offerings and increase value to our members, partners and the greater community to develop stronger, future-ready boards and organisations. I would also like to thank Mr Edwin Lee for his numerous contributions as Executive Director; we are fortunate he has agreed to stay on as Deputy CEO to help with the important work ahead,” said Ms Wong Su-Yen, Chair of the Governing Council, Singapore Institute of Directors.
SID’s members comprise directors from a wide range of entities including listed companies, private companies, statutory boards, family businesses, multinational companies (MNCs), startups and nonprofit organisations. As the national association for company directors, it is committed to championing corporate governance and effective board practices through supporting its members’ professional and developmental needs, leading in research and thought leadership on directorship and governance matters, and contributing to building a vibrant governance ecosystem.
A passionate leader with diverse experiences
“With a legacy of more than two decades, the Singapore Institute of Directors is the apex organisation supporting directors in championing corporate governance. Its mission to keep directors abreast with the relevant expertise, knowledge and skills is even more compelling as the world evolves to a post-pandemic era. I am grateful to be given this opportunity to build on the previous efforts of the executive team and lead the organisation into the next lap of enhancing member offerings to a broader scope of stakeholders, as well as impacting the wider corporate governance ecosystem in Singapore and beyond,” said Mr Terence Quek, Chief Executive Officer, Singapore Institute of Directors.
Terence is an SID member and he has held leadership and board roles at several membership, community development and educational institutions. This has provided him with a deep appreciation of the issues confronting the director community. He has a proven track record in leading businesses across the region and building strategic partnerships across the public, private and social spheres. These experiences align with SID’s aspirations to accelerate and scale its expansion to meet the needs of a varied membership base, as well as seek collaborations with a wider spectrum of stakeholders.
The breadth of Terence’s experiences and qualifications include:
- Corporate leadership roles: Prior to being appointed CEO of SID, he was the APAC Regional CEO of Emergenetics International (Emergenetics) a global human capital company. Leading it to expand into six territories within APAC, he also set up headquarters in Shanghai for the Greater China region.
- Entrepreneurial experience: Before joining Emergenetics, Terence co-founded and helmed Caelan & Sage, a creative think tank focusing on strategic communications. He led it to grow from zero investment to grossing over a million in turnover within a few years before taking it through a merger and acquisition.
- Public service roles: Prior to this, he spent 13 years as a Naval Combat Officer and Staff Officer with the Singapore Navy. He is also currently District Councillor of both the South-East and South-West Community Development Councils, as well as the current Chair of the Executive Committee of SAFRA Toa Payoh. Terence was awarded the Public Service Star in 2021.
- Degrees, diplomas and certifications: Terence holds an honours degree in Psychology from the University of Sheffield, UK and is also the recipient of a scholarship from SMU-WDA-IPRS to complete a Master of Science in Communication Management. His commitment to learning is further exemplified in the additional qualifications of the SID-SMU Executive Diploma in Directorship, certification by the Association for Talent Development (USA) as ATD Expert Coach and ATD Master Performance Consultant, and accreditation by the Singapore International Mediation Institute as a mediator.
Terence’s diverse background complements Su-Yen’s board and leadership experiences across technology, strategy, business and human capital. Alongside his appointment as CEO and together with the Governing Council and executive team, SID is poised to meet the evolving needs of directors, amplify its efforts in providing advocacy and thought leadership on pertinent directorship issues, and forge further partnerships whilst strengthening linkages with stakeholders in advancing its cause.
