Corporate

Dato’ Jaya J B Tan was appointed to the Board since 23 December 2003. Dato’ Jaya was re-designated from Non-Executive Chairman to Executive Chairman on 3 November 2020. He is overall in charge of the Group’s corporate and operational functions, identifying, charting and implementing sustainable business strategies in new growth areas of the Group’s businesses.

He graduated from the University of Arizona and is a Mechanical Engineer by training. He has extensive experience in forestry, property development, food retail operations, trading and financial services. Previously, he has served as Chairman of several companies quoted on the stock exchanges of Malaysia, United Kingdom, Singapore, Australia and India.

Dato’ Jaya is the brother of Dato’ Kamal Y P Tan.

Dr Sam Goi Seng Hui joined the Board of Envictus International Holdings Limited as Vice-Chairman and Non-Executive Director on 9 January 2013.

He is the Executive Chairman of Tee Yih Jia Group, SGX Mainboard-listed GSH Corporation Limited and Hanwell Holdings Ltd.

Established in 1969, Tee Yih Jia Group is a global food and beverage group with operations in Singapore, Malaysia, USA, Europe and China, and exports to over 80 countries worldwide. GSH Corporation Limited is a developer of premium residential and commercial properties in the region, as well as the owner and operator of Sutera Habour Resort, Marina and Golf Course and other prime properties currently under development in Kuala Lumpur and Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia.

Dr Sam Goi also serves as Non-Executive Chairman of Tat Seng Packaging Group Ltd, as well as Non Independent, Non-Executive Director and Vice Chairman of JB Foods Limited. He is also a Non Executive and Non-Independent Director of Catalist listed company, Tung Lok Group Restaurants (2000) Ltd. In addition, he has business interest across a range of private entities in diverse industries, including food and beverage, leisure real estate, consumer essentials, renewable energy, healthcare, technology, distribution, and logistics.

In addition, Dr Sam Goi has vast experience of doing business in the region, and is a strong advocate of trade. He is a council member for the Singapore-Zhejiang Economic and Trade Council (SZETC), Singapore-Tianjin Economic and Trade Council (STETC) and Singapore Jiangsu Cooperation Council (SJCC). He also serves as the Enterprise 50 Club’s Honorary Past President and Honorary Council Member of the Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCCI).

In April 2018, Dr Sam Goi was appointed Singapore’s Non-Resident Ambassador to the Federative Republic of Brazil.

He was named “Businessman of the Year” at the Singapore Business Awards (2014) and conferred the Public Service Star (Bar) (BBM (L)) at the 49th National Day Awards by the President of Singapore for his contributions to the community. For his social and business contributions to Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia, he was conferred the State Award of Panglima Gemilang Darjah Kinabalu (PGDK), which carries the title of Datuk, from the state of Sabah. In 2015, he received the “SG50 Outstanding Chinese Business Pioneers Award” and the Long Service Award from Singapore’s People’s Action Party. Dr Sam Goi was also awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award by Enterprise Asia in 2015 and by the Asian Strategy & Leadership Institute in 2016. In 2017, he was honoured for his contributions and success as an overseas Chinese by the People’s Tribune Magazine in Beijing, China. In 2018, he was conferred the Distinguished Business Leader Award at the World Chinese Economic Forum. In 2019, he was appointed Patron for Advancement and received the inaugural Benefactors Fellow Award from the Singapore University for Technology and Design (SUTD) and conferred the Pearl of Orient award at the World Chinese Economic Forum. In 2021, Mr Goi was conferred an Honorary Doctorate from SUTD.

Dr Sam Goi is also the Honorary Chairman of Dunman High School Advisory Committee, Ulu Pandan Citizens Consultative Committee, Singapore Futsing Association, and Nanyang Gwee Clan Association. He is also an Honorary President of Kong Hwa School Alumni, a Senior Consultant of Su Tong Science & Technology Park, a Committee Member of Tan Kah Kee Foundation, and a Council Member of NTUC Club Management Council. He was appointed as Justice of Peace in 2020 for a period of five years.

Dato’ Kamal Y P Tan is the Non-Executive Director and Adviser of the Company and was appointed to the Board on 23 December 2003. He was appointed as the Executive Director of the Company upon its listing on 23 December 2004 and subsequently became the Group Chief Executive Officer on 20 January 2009. He has been re-designated as Non-Executive Director and Adviser on 1 April 2019 following his decision for semiretirement. On 1 April 2020, Dato’ Kamal was re-designated as Acting Group Chief Executive Officer. Dato’ Kamal assumed the position of Group CEO on 1 October 2020 to 3 November 2020 before he took the current position as Non-Executive Director and Adviser on 3 November 2020. Dato’ Kamal Y P Tan has ceased to be the Adviser of the Company on 31 October 2022 following the expiry of the term of his appointment. In view of the above cessation, Dato’ Kamal Y P Tan is re-designated from “Non-Executive Director and Adviser” to “Non-Executive Director” with effect from 1 November 2022.

Dato’ Kamal is an Economics graduate from the London School of Economics and has held board positions with companies listed on the stock exchanges in Malaysia, Singapore, Australia, United Kingdom and India.

Currently, Dato’ Kamal is also the Non-Executive Director of another company listed on the Singapore Stock Exchange, namely Lasseters International Holdings Limited. He is a Board member of Park Hyatt Saigon, a 259-room 5-star hotel in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

Dato’ Kamal is the brother of Dato’ Jaya J B Tan.

Mr Teo Chee Seng was appointed Independent Director of the Company on 3 August 2004. He holds a Bachelor of Law (Hons) degree from the University of Singapore and is a lawyer in the Singapore private practice for more than 30 years.

Mr Teo acts as the legal consultant to Tzu Chi Foundation, Taiwan’s biggest charity organisation which is also an United Nations NGO.

Apart from the present directorship of the Company, Mr Teo is the Independent Director of Lasseters International Holdings Limited and Soilbuild Construction Group Ltd, companies listed on the Singapore Stock Exchange and United Overseas Australia Ltd, which is listed on both Singapore and Australia stock exchanges and UOA Development Bhd, a company listed on the Bursa Malaysia.

Mr John Lyn Hian Woon was appointed Independent Director on 3 August 2004. He holds a BSc degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Leeds, UK and an MBA from Washington State University.

Mr Lyn is currently the Chief Executive Officer of Indigo Investment Pte Ltd, a family office organization registered in Singapore. He is also a Director of Sirus International Holdings, an international school based in Kuala Lumpur.

Mr Lyn is a former Chairman of Vietnam Asset Management, an associate company of UOB Kay Hian, which manages Public-listed Funds for Vietnam. He has previously held the position of Chief Executive Officer of Colonial Investment Pte. Ltd. and was responsible for management, strategic planning, investment and corporate restructuring. Prior to that, he was an investment banker with various financial institutions such as Chase Manhattan Bank, Citibank, Schroders Securities and HSBC James Capel with a total of 15 years of experience.

Apart from the directorship of the Company, Mr Lyn does not hold directorship in any other listed companies.

Mr Mah Weng Choong was appointed to the Board on 3 August 2004 as a Non-Executive Director and was re-designated to the position of Group Chief Operating Officer (“Group COO”) on 13 May 2010. Mr Mah relinquished his position as Group COO of the Company following the completion of the disposal of the Group’s dairies and packaging business to Asahi Group Holdings Southeast Asia Pte. Ltd. and was re-designated as Non-Executive Director with effect from 1 July 2014. Mr Mah was the Group COO of Etika Dairies Sdn Bhd from 30 June 2014 to 30 June 2015. On 1 October 2017, Mr Mah was re-designated from Non-Executive Director to Independent Director of the Company. On 1 October 2020, Mr Mah was re-designated as Non-Executive Director.

Mr Mah is a graduate in Science from the University of Malaya and is an industry veteran who spent more than 5 decades in companies involved in the manufacturing and distribution of sweetened condensed milk, ice-cream, UHT beverages, milk powder packing and other dairy related products. Experienced and knowledgeable in setting up plants and strategic planning, Mr Mah is instrumental in the development and expansion plans of the dairies, packaging and beverage divisions of the Group since its inception.

Mr Mah currently acts as a Consultant for the Group’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Motivage Sdn Bhd, for the setting up of the Group’s sweetened condensed milk manufacturing plant in Selangor Halal Hub in Pulau Indah. He provides advice and guidance on dairy factory design and process design, review construction layout, sourcing of machineries and equipment as well as business advisory services such as raw materials procurement and production process.

Apart from the directorship of the Company, Mr Mah does not hold directorship in any other listed companies.

Mr Richard Lee Keng Chian was appointed to the Board on 1 August 2023 as Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer.

Richard holds a Diploma in Business Administration from Thames Business School in Singapore. Richard co-founded Aalst Chocolate (“Aalst”) with his wife, Ms Connie Kwan in 2003. He was leading the strategy development and commercial performance of Aalst. With over 20 years of experience in cocoa and chocolate industry, in-depth understanding of Asia and strong customers connection, Richard has driven the expansion of  Aalst’s production capacity from 7,200 metric ton to 36,000 metric ton over the years and grew its export business to more than 50 countries. Richard sold Aalst to Cargill in November 2021 and was appointed as Founder & Senior Advisor after the disposal. He oversees Aalsts organic expansion and business activations. Prior to Aalst, Richard spent 5 years at Barry Callebaut as a Business Development Director. During his tenure, he played a critical role in helping the company to penetrate the chocolate ingredient segment in the subcontinental markets of Sri Lanka, India, Pakistan as well as the Indo-China markets of Thailand, Vietnam, Myanmar, Cambodia and Laos.

Dr Tan Khee Giap was appointed to the Board on 1 August 2023 as Independent Director.

Dr Tan is currently the Chairman of the Singapore National Committee for Pacific Economic Cooperation (SINCPEC). Upon graduating with a PhD from University of East Anglia, England, in 1987 under the Overseas Research Scheme awarded by the Committee of Vice-Chancellors and Principals of the Universities of the United Kingdom, he joined the banking sector as a treasury manager and served as secretary to the Assets and Liabilities Committee for three years, there after he taught at the Department of Economics and Statistics, National University of Singapore, 1990-1993. Dr Tan joined Nanyang Technological University in 1993 and was Associate Dean, Graduate Studies Office, 2007-2009. He was Associate Professor at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy (LKYSPP), National University of Singapore (NUS) from 2009 to 2022 and Co-Director of the Asia Competitiveness Institute (ACI) at LKYSPP, NUS from 2011 to 2020.

Dr Tan has consulted extensively with the various government ministries, statutory boards and government linked companies of Singapore government including Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Trade & Industry, Ministry of Manpower, Housing & Development Board, Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore, Singapore Tourism Board, Trade Development Board, Maritime Port Authority, Ministry of Information, Culture & Arts, Economic Development Board, Ministry of National Development, Media Development Authority, Ministry of Environment and Water Resources, Singapore Design Council, Ministry of Community Development, Youth & Sports, Singapore Press Holdings, Yayasan Mendaki, StarHub, CapitaLand and Great Eastern Life. He has also served as a consultant to international agencies such as the Asian Development Bank, Asian Development Bank Institute, United Nations Industrial Development Group, World Bank Group, World Gold Council, ASEAN Secretariat, Central Policy Unit of Hong Kong, Kerzner International, Las Vegas Sands, Marina Bay Sands and Suzhou Industrial Park Authority.

Dr Tan is the lead author for more than 20 books, serving as journal editors and published widely in international refereed journals. He is the associate editor of the journal Review of Pacific Basin Financial Markets and Policies (US) and is on the editorial advisory board of the journal Competitiveness Review (UK). His current research interests include Cost of Living and Purchasing Power Index for World’s 105 Cities, Global Liveable Cities Index, Ease of Doing Business Index and competitiveness analysis on sub-national economies of China, India, Indonesia and Association of South East Asian Nations. Dr Tan was Deputy President of the Singapore Economic Society, 2004. He served in the 2002 Economic Review Committee (ERC), served as Chairman of the Task Force on Portable Medical Benefits (PMB), served as the Deputy Chairman of the IPS Forum for Economic Restructuring (IFER) in 2003 and served as a member of the Resource Panel of the Government Parliamentary Committee for Transport and Government Parliamentary Committee for Finance and Trade & Industry and Government Parliamentary Committee for Defense and Foreign Affairs since 2007. Dr Tan is currently an Independent Director of the publicly listed Boustead Singapore Limited, Lian Beng Group Ltd, Ascent Bridge Limited, and non-publicly listed BreadTalk Group Pte. Ltd. He is also the Senior Business Advisor to G.H.Y. Culture & Media (Singapore) Pte. Ltd. He was also the Senior Business Advisor to United Overseas Bank Limited, Singapore and Independent Director at the state-owned Chengdu Rural Commercial Bank Co., Ltd, China.

Mr Tan San Ming was appointed to the Board on 1 August 2023 as Alternate Director to Dato’ Jaya J B Tan and Chief Operating Officer.

Mr Tan holds a Bachelor of Law (LLB) degree from King’s College London in the United Kingdom. He has also spent 2 years in Tsinghua University in Beijing China, where he studied Mandarin under the HSK (Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi汉语水平考试) syllabus. Mr Tan also attended elective extracurricular lectures and studies in subjects such as “Chinese society and culture development and business economics”.

Mr Tan joined the Envictus Group in October 2020. He has been involved in executing day-to-day operational and strategic business development decisions of San Francisco Coffee Sdn Bhd (“SFC”) that include sites selection, cost control schemes, key brand marketing initiatives, meeting key business partners/suppliers, relocating warehouse and central kitchen and other related business matters of SFC. He is accountable for supporting and coaching approximately 50 SFC outlets throughout Malaysia, recruiting and developing new team members and identify strategies to increase sales whilst maintaining operational standards. He has contributed to the overall strategy, performance and evolution of the business in tandem with Envictus Group’s expansion plan. Having directly overseen the recovery and expansion of the business, Mr Tan has helped to and is continuing to rectify the issues affecting the overall viability of the business with the aim of restoring San Francisco Coffee as one of the top coffee chains in Malaysia.

In 2015, Mr Tan co-founded MYLK Group a small independent Fresh Milk distributor. Working together with a local farm and milk manufacturer, MYLK Group primarily focused on providing milk supply to small cafes and businesses in Kuala Lumpur. From 2015 to 2019 MYLK Group had over 40 individual customers before eventually returning its distribution rights back to the manufacturer. Around the same time, Mr Tan also owned a stake in 2 restaurants specializing in local food and drinks which was eventually sold to the remaining partners in year 2019.

Mr Tan has previously held the position of Executive from September 2005 to September 2013 in Lasseters Management (M) Sdn Bhd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Lasseters International Holdings Limited, a public company listed on the Catalist Board of the Singapore Exchange. The Lasseters Group was involved in hospitality, gaming, spa and wellness businesses in Australia and property development in Malaysia. Mr Tan has also worked in the sales and marketing department of Pok Brothers Sdn Bhd, a subsidiary of Envictus Group which is involved in trading of frozen food products from 2013 to 2014.

Ms Kwan Hoi Chee Deborah Connie was appointed to the Board on 1 August 2023 as Alternate Director to Mr Richard Lee Keng Chian.

Ms Connie was appointed Co-Founder & Senior Advisor of Aalst Chocolate “Aalst” after Cargill’s acquisition of Aalst was completed in November 2021. She now oversees and ensure the smooth daily operations of Aalst and its corporate affairs activities, in particular with Singapore government agencies.

Ms Connie currently sits on Singapore Innovation Productivity Institute “SIPI” Board of Directors, a Subsidiary of Singapore Manufacturing Federation “SMF”, a Singapore Government Agency.

Ms Connie co-founded Aalst with Richard Lee in 2003 and prior to the acquisition, she had been heading its daily operations and overseeing all facets of capabilities for an internationally certified food manufacturing plant. She played a critical role in managing external stakeholders, from government agencies to financial institutions, and was instrumental in Aalst’s achievement of Pioneer status (Tax Free) in its first 10 years of business. Above all, Connie had been leading the strategy development including export readiness, intellectual Property and branding. Before the founding of Aalst, Connie was Managing Director for TY Beanie Babies APAC from 1999 to 2001, successfully launching the American toy brand in Singapore, Malaysia and India.