Yvon Bock of Hegen Pte Ltd named EY Entrepreneur Of The Year™ 2023 Singapore

• She will represent Singapore at the EY World Entrepreneur Of The Year in 2024

Ms. Yvon Bock, Founder and CEO of Hegen Pte Ltd, has been named EY Entrepreneur Of The Year (EOY) 2023 Singapore by professional services organization, EY. This was announced during the EY EOY awards gala this evening, where Minister for Manpower and Second Minister for Trade and Industry, Dr. Tan See Leng, was the guest-of-honor.

Ms. Yvon Bock, who was also named EY Entrepreneur Of The Year – Consumer Products, will represent Singapore at the prestigious EY World Entrepreneur Of The Year (WEOY) in June 2024. She will compete with global contenders for the coveted world title. The EY WEOY competition is the hallmark of the awards program, offering a platform to profile local entrepreneurs among the world’s leading business leaders.

(Please refer to Fact sheet A for past WEOY winners)

On winning the top honor, Ms. Bock says:

“Motherhood has always pushed me to become a greater person. Now, it has guided me to learn the art of entrepreneurship, where I have become the driving force of inspiration and innovation for solutions to issues that weigh heavily on my mind. I’m beyond honored to be able to be named the overall EY Entrepreneur Of The Year Singapore 2024 and I will continue to pursue my mission of empowering 100 million mothers globally to do us proud!”

In addition to the top honor, EY presented four EOY category awards at the awards gala:

• EY Entrepreneur Of The Year – Advanced Manufacturing
  Ms. Phyllis Ong, Group CEO, Armstrong Industrial Corporation Limited
• EY Entrepreneur Of The Year – New Media and Entertainment|Ms. Althea Lim,
  Cofounder and Group CEO, Gushcloud International
  
• EY Entrepreneur Of The Year – Consumer Products
  Ms. Yvon Bock, Founder and CEO, Hegen Pte Ltd
• EY Entrepreneur Of The Year – E-commerce Services
  Ms. Olive Tai, Cofounder and Managing Director, Synagie Group Asia and Europe

Please refer to Fact sheet B for profiles of the winners and their companies.

The winners were selected from close to 100 nominations by an independent judging panel, based on their merits in fulfilling the four globally benchmarked criteria, namely entrepreneurial spirit, growth, purpose and impact.

Please refer to Fact sheet C for members of the judging panel and details of the judging criteria.

Chairperson of the judging panel, Dr. Shi Xu, Founder and Executive Chairman of Nanofilm Technologies International Ltd, comments:

“The four winners this year clearly demonstrate strong business acumen and innovation paired with passion and purpose. Whether it is breaking new grounds in traditional industries or charting unknown territories in emerging sectors, the winners have been bold with their vision in growing a business that not only responds to but creates new market demands.

For Yvon, through her personal experience, she recognizes the challenges that mothers face with nursing their children and was motivated to empower women with better experiences. This led her to the path of entrepreneurship. Today, Hegen is a global brand in 24 markets worldwide, making an impact not just in helping mothers in their breastfeeding journeys, but also innovating to support them through their children’s growing ages.”

Bolstering entrepreneurship in Singapore

The four winners came from varied backgrounds and pressed on with their entrepreneurial journey due to their passion and purpose.

Mr. Liew Nam Soon, EY Asean Regional Managing Partner and Singapore and Brunei Managing Partner, Ernst & Young Solutions LLP, says:

“For the first time in the award’s 22-year history, the entire class of winners are women entrepreneurs, each with a compelling story to tell. Yvon was driven by her personal experience in spotting a market gap; Phyllis boldly took over the reins of leadership to transform the family’s manufacturing business into a formidable regional player; Althea saw a first-mover opportunity in the rise of influencer marketing and new media globally; and Olive leveraged her strong corporate career experience to tap on the burgeoning potential of e-commerce.

Fulfilling an entrepreneurial aspiration is not an easy journey. It takes tenacity, resilience and unwavering belief to press on despite the challenges and unpredictability of economic conditions, underpinned by a supportive broader ecosystem that enables entrepreneurship to flourish.”

The winning entrepreneurs share their thoughts on what can be done to bolster entrepreneurship in Singapore in fact sheet B.

Special honor for Sunway Group and Ho Bee Land

At the awards gala, EY presented the EY Asean Entrepreneurial Excellence award to Tan Sri Sir Jeffrey Cheah KBE AO, Founder and Chairman of Sunway Group in Malaysia.

Mr. Liew says:

“Tan Sri Sir Jeffrey Cheah KBE AO’s story exemplifies how sustainability and profitability are complementary, evidenced by how he transformed Sunway City Kuala Lumpur, which was previously an 800-acre tin mine, into Malaysia’s first integrated green township. Under his astute leadership, Sunway Group continues to integrate technology and sustainable innovations into its business and is today a leading conglomerate with diverse businesses.

Beyond building a successful business, Tan Sri Sir makes quality education and world-class expertise affordable and accessible in Malaysia through the Jeffrey Cheah Foundation, which has disbursed education scholarships and grants exceeding RM670m in 2023.”

On receiving the award, Tan Sri Sir says:

“This award is for my Sunway and Jeffrey Cheah Foundation colleagues whose dedication, resilience and hard work have made a positive impact and a lasting difference on Malaysia and society. Sunway Group will be celebrating our 50th Anniversary next year – and this award serves as an early ‘birthday present’ for everyone affiliated with the brand and the foundation.”

Please refer to Fact sheet D for winner’s quote and profile.

EY also presented the EY Family Enterprise Award of Excellence to Ho Bee Land at the awards gala. The award recipient is jointly selected by knowledge partners, Business Families Institute @ Singapore Management University and the INSEAD Wendel International Centre for Family Enterprise.

Mr. Liew says:

“Ho Bee Land is widely recognized as a developer of luxury homes and a creator of sustainable sanctuaries that elevate how communities live, work and innovate for the future. As a second-generation property developer and investor, Ho Bee Land has successfully preserved its company and family values while maintaining the innovative and entrepreneurial spirit over generations. Its core belief – ‘built to last’ – not just in the real estates that they develop but also in nurturing a family enterprise that will last through generations, is admirable. Beyond building a high-performing business, Ho Bee Land is also committed to various charitable causes that uplift communities and create a caring and inclusive society.”

On receiving the award, Dr. Chua Thian Poh, Executive Chairman of Ho Bee Land says:

“I’m humbled and honored to receive this award, as this is not only an acknowledgment of our corporate achievements, but also a validation of our enduring family values and principles that have guided us on this remarkable journey. We focus not only on doing well in our business, but also on the well-being of our stakeholders, employees and the communities we serve, building a culture of care, inclusivity and sustainable growth.”

Please refer to Fact sheet E for winner’s quote, winner profile, eligibility and selection criteria.

The official media partners of the EY EOY awards are The Business Times, The Edge Singapore and Portfolio magazine. The supporters are Action Community for Entrepreneurship; Enterprise Singapore; Singapore Business Federation; and SkillsFuture Singapore.

For more information about the EY EOY program, please visit ey.com/sg/eoy.

                                                                                        -ends-

Notes to editors

About EY

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This news release has been issued by Ernst & Young Solutions LLP, a member of the global EY organization.

About EY Entrepreneur Of The Year™

EY Entrepreneur Of The Year™ is the world’s most prestigious business awards program for entrepreneurs. The program makes a difference through the way it encourages entrepreneurial activity among those with potential and recognizes the contribution of people who inspire others with their vision, leadership and achievement. As the first and only truly global awards program of its kind, Entrepreneur Of The Year celebrates those who are building and leading successful, growing and dynamic businesses, recognizing them through regional, national and global awards programs in more than 145 cities in more than 60 countries. ey.com/eoy

Fact sheet A: EY World Entrepreneur Of The Year past winners

Past WEOY winners

2001: Paolo della Porta, President, Chairman and Group CEO of Saes Getters S.p.A., Italy

2002: Stefan Vilsmeier, President and CEO of BrainLAB AG, Germany

2003: Narayana Murthy, Founder and Chairman of Infosys Technologies Limited, India

2004: Tony Tan Caktiong, Chairman and President of Jollibee Foods Corporation, Philippines

2005: Wayne Huizenga, President of Huizenga Holdings, Inc., US

2006: Bill Lynch, CEO of Imperial Holdings, South Africa

2007: Guy Laliberté, Founder and CEO of Cirque du Soleil, Canada

2008: Dr. Jean-Paul Clozel, Founder of Actelion Pharmaceuticals, Switzerland

2009: Cho Tak Wong, Chairman of Fuyao Glass Industry Group, Mainland China

2010: Michael Spencer, Group CEO of ICAP plc, UK

2011: Olivia Lum, Founder of Hyflux Ltd, Singapore

2012: James Mwangi, CEO and Managing Director of Equity Bank Limited, Kenya

2013: Hamdi Ulukaya, Founder and CEO of Chobani, Inc., US

2014: Uday Kotak, President and CEO of Kotak Mahindra Bank, India

2015: Mohed Altrad, Chairman of Altrad, France

2016: Manny Stul, Chairman and Co-CEO of Moose Enterprise Holdings & Controlled Entities, Australia

2017: Murad Al-Katib, President and CEO of AGT Food and Ingredients Inc., Canada

2018: Rubens Menin, Chairman of MRV Engenharia e Participações S.A., Brazil

2019: Brad Keywell, CEO of Uptake Technologies Inc., US

2020: Dr. Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, Executive Chairperson of Biocon Limited, India

2021: JungJin Seo, Honorary Chairman of Celltrion Group, South Korea

2022: Gaston Taratuta, Founder and CEO of Aleph, Argentina

2023: Doris Hsu, GlobalWafers Co., Ltd., Taiwan

Fact sheet B: EY Entrepreneur Of The Year winner and company profiles

(Information provided by winners’ companies)

a)    EY Entrepreneur Of The Year 2023 Singapore
       EY Entrepreneur Of The Year – Consumer Products
        Ms. Yvon Bock
        Founder and CEO
        Hegen Pte Ltd

Quote on receiving the category award

“Thank you for allowing me to stand among fellow recognized entrepreneurs, each bright in their own right. This award is more than a culmination; it encourages me to exceed limits and create positive changes. Witnessing the shared passion and perseverance that have anchored us to our relentless pursuit for excellence, this will continue to inspire me to keep innovating for the betterment of mothers.”

Quote on how to bolster entrepreneurship in Singapore

“In my perspective, an endeavor called ‘crisis investment’ holds merit in bolstering entrepreneurship. It enables us to convert moments of hardship into stepping stones for greater achievements.

Entrepreneurial pursuits inherently encompass adversity; evading them is impossible. Yet, it is these challenges that are potential catalysts for innovation and growth, transforming adversity into opportunity.

Amid the turbulence of the COVID-19 pandemic, my team and I embraced crisis investment, a strategy that led to the expansion of Hegen Experiential Centre, establishment of a new production facility and an automated factory. We had invested more than we had in the last six years combined, and remarkably, in return, this unprecedented move has doubled our revenue in 2022.

Welcoming uncertainty and adversity become pivotal. They harbor opportunities that hold the seed of transformation and progress, potentially directing us onto a path to unparalleled heights.”

About Ms. Yvon Bock

Ms. Yvon Bock is the founder and CEO of Hegen, a successful mother and baby care brand that seeks to empower mothers in their breastfeeding and motherhood journey.

As a working mother who breastfed for a decade, Ms. Bock understands the challenges that come with balancing work and parenthood. Hegen is a testament to her dedication to providing innovative solutions that make parenthood more fulfilling.

Ms. Bock strives to provide the gold standard perinatal lactation support to parents and babies through education and consultation services via the Hegen Lactation Centre. Ultimately, Ms. Bock’s goal is to serve 100 million mothers globally and to continually pay it forward.

Her steadfast dedication to the empowerment of working mothers eventually led her to become an International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant and also a member of the Alliance for Family and Marriage, an organization under the Ministry of Social and Family Development that empowers and supports families at different stages of life.

Ms. Bock is 44 years old.

About Hegen Pte Ltd

To enhance and create a positive breastfeeding journey for parents, Hegen was established in Singapore in 2015 by its founder and CEO, Yvon Bock, whose vision was to modernize a feeding system that advocates breastfeeding, protects the integrity of breastmilk, and simplifies the way mothers express, store and feed.

As a global brand thoughtfully designed by a mother for mothers, Hegen champions sustainability through innovative, practical and high-quality breastfeeding products that can be easily converted and repurposed to meet the evolving needs of a child, hence extending the product lifespan to beyond a bottle.

The iconic ergonomically shaped Hegen Sqround™ (square-round) bottles are modular, multifunctional and designed with patented Press-to-Close, Twist-to-Open™ (PCTO™) no screw thread closure for easy handling and assembling across the Hegen express-store-feed ecosystem.

Hegen is currently available in 24 international markets.

hegen.com

b)    EY Entrepreneur Of The Year – Advanced Manufacturing
        Ms. Phyllis Ong
        Group CEO
        Armstrong Industrial Corporation Limited

Quote on receiving the category award

“I am honored to be named EY Entrepreneur Of The Year – Advanced Manufacturing. The vision to be the most innovative industry leader in digitalization, environmental sustainability, customer-centricity and talent management will continue to differentiate us and drive us to stay highly relevant and valued by both our external and internal stakeholders.”

Quote on how to bolster entrepreneurship in Singapore

“In an increasingly volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous world, developing both an entrepreneurial mindset and skillsets is an essential leadership capability across all functions in an organization. Exposure to entrepreneurship and its journey – one that is filled with a mix of failures and successes, pain and joy – should start at a young age so that our youths will be more open to and capable of embracing the multidimensional aspects of entrepreneurship throughout their career development and life endeavors.”

About Ms. Phyllis Ong

Ms. Phyllis Ong is the second-generation family business leader of Armstrong Group. Her vision is for the company to become a scalable world-class manufacturing gateway, partnering diverse talents and organizations from all over the world.

Partnerships with quality enterprises have always formed the cornerstone of Armstrong Group’s 50-year journey and this continues to be in their DNA and growth strategy.

She started her entrepreneurial journey 20 years ago in 2003, cofounding Whole Earth, Singapore’s first and only Michelin-awarded (Bib Gourmand) plant-based restaurant.

In 2017, she founded CORI Innolab, a biotechnology company that invests in the development of advanced biologically active collagen used in skin healing and anti-ageing for medical and beauty care.

Ms. Ong has been a board member of Enterprise Singapore since 2022 and a committee member for the E50 Association since 2021. She is also a council member of the Singapore Manufacturing Federation. She is passionate about encouraging more collaborations between international and Singapore enterprises.

Ms. Ong is 47 years old.

About Armstrong Industrial Corporation Limited

Armstrong Group, headquartered in Singapore, currently operates at 19 sites across seven countries in Southeast Asia and China, with 16 factories and two sales offices. Since 1974, Armstrong Group has been operating as a B2B precision engineering manufacturer where they customize foam, film and elastomeric solutions for noise, vibration, heat and safety management. They are also the only one-stop solution provider in the world, offering more than 10 precision engineering technologies for both 2D and3D material converting services in the industry segment.

Armstrong Group serves diverse industries including automotive, consumer electronics, industrial as well as medical and health care. Customers and partners value Armstrong Group’s strong technical capabilities and unique footprint across Asia. They have more than 2,500 customers including market-leading European, American and Japanese brands such as Mercedes Benz, BMW, Audi, Volkswagen, Toyota, Honda, Nissan, Ford, Dyson, Panasonic, Lexmark, Roland, Yamaha, Shimano, Peters Surgical, Bio-Rad and Molnlycke.

armstrongasia.com

c)    EY Entrepreneur Of The Year – New Media and Entertainment
       Ms. Althea Lim
       Cofounder and Group CEO
       Gushcloud International

Quote on receiving the category award

“Being awarded as EY Entrepreneur Of The Year – New Media and Entertainment means that I have one a job well enough to have solved some soft problems in the world (values formation – keeping society in balance; promoting joy, peace, hope, and positivity, which are all very important to the nation). Most importantly, we have also stood our case to create sustainable jobs in this new creator economy that we really care about.”

Quote on how to bolster entrepreneurship in Singapore

“The government has done a tremendous job in providing grants and doing a lot of overseas business, possibly even more than local entrepreneurs themselves.

The key word here is hunger. How do we make our children hungry (to succeed) using fear and hope? Fear that if they aren’t hungry enough, all the people they love will not be taken care of. But that needs to be balanced with the spirit of hope. They need to hope for a better life for themselves and the people that they love and care about. This can be achieved through education.”

About Ms. Althea Lim

Ms. Althea Lim started operating within the creator, influencer and entertainment scene as early as 2010. She later on cofounded Gushcloud International with business partner, Vincent Ha.

As Group CEO since 2017, Ms. Lim has redefined Gushcloud International as a content and commerce company powered by the creator economy. The company is now based in 11 countries including Australia, China, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, the US, and Vietnam, and has over 300 full-time staff.

With Ms. Lim’s contribution to the creator, entertainment and commerce industries in Asia-Pacific and the US, she was cited as the overall winner for the SME category at Women Entrepreneur Awards 2023. She was also included in the 2021 Tatler's "Asia's Most Influential” Singapore list. Gushcloud International has also been recognized as one of “Singapore's Fastest Growing Companies” by The Straits Times in 2021 and 2022.

Ms. Lim is 39 years old.

About Gushcloud International

Gushcloud International is a global creator and entertainment company, focused on influencer marketing, entertainment and commerce. They connect audiences and brands to influencers and content creators through representation and management, brand strategy, marketing and activation services, media production sales and distribution, licensing and co-creating significant IP in the content, media and event spaces.

gushcloud.com

d)    EY Entrepreneur Of The Year – E-commerce Services
        Ms. Olive Tai
        Cofounder and Managing Director
        Synagie Group Asia and Europe

Quote on receiving the category award

“This award helps me celebrate my 10th year as an entrepreneur, a journey that has been difficult and challenging but also immensely satisfying and rewarding. I could not have done this alone.”

Quote on how to bolster entrepreneurship in Singapore

“Providing easy and ready access to a strong infrastructure of knowledge, resource and community – something that I have intentionally tried to contribute, in one way or another, over the years.

Back in 2021, I started the Synagie Commerce Academy to empower business owners with practical knowledge about digital commerce, alongside working partners like the Singapore Management University Academy and Singapore Institute of Research Studies.

I am an active member of the Singapore Business Federation because I believe the organization provides access to essential resources to entrepreneurs and small business owners, whether for business consult or financing, digitalization, internationalization or sustainability.

Lastly, I am proud to have cofounded the Singapore Women Entrepreneurs Network, which over the last two years, provided and promoted greater collaboration, support and sense of community for women entrepreneurs and business owners in Singapore.”

About Ms. Olive Tai

Ms. Olive Tai is Cofounder and Managing Director of Synagie Group Asia and Europe, responsible for the group’s operations, growth and profitability across eight markets.

Prior to Synagie, Ms. Tai spent 20 years in the FMCG and retail industry, in leadership positions at Johnson & Johnson, Bausch & Lomb and Watsons.

Since 2022, Ms. Tai has successfully transformed Synagie to become a regional digital commerce institution, launching the group’s digital commerce management system and new retail models, as well as championing environmental sustainability, upskilling and learning, and support for women business owners in the sector.

Ms. Tai is the founding and executive committee member of the Singapore Women Entrepreneurs Network established by the Singapore Business Federation (SBF) in 2021. She is also an active member of the SBF’s SME committee and mentor to its Young Business Leaders Network.

Ms. Tai is her in 40s.

About Synagie Group Asia and Europe

Synagie Group Asia and Europe is the leading, multiple award-winning Southeast Asia ecommerce enabler, powering digital commerce across all major channels and platforms across the region and Spain.

Managing over 1,000 digital stores in the region, for 600 brand partners, Synagie is the winner of Lazada Regional Partner of Year 2021-2022. It is Lazada 3-star certified and a Shopee- accredited enabler regionally.

In 2022, Synagie took top honors for “Best eCommerce Fulfilment and Customer Service” in Marketing Interactive’s Asia eCommerce Awards.

Synagie's digital commerce platform and technology solutions are ISO/IEC 27001:2013 certified for information security. Synagie is certified carbon neutral (TUV 2023-CNT-P002) and offers eco-friendly packaging and fulfillment options to its working partners across the region.

Employing 450 digital commerce professionals across Southeast Asia, Synagie advocates for fair, safe, inclusive and progressive workspaces. Synagie Commerce Academy was established in 2021 to promote continuous digital commerce learning and upskilling for Synagie and the public.

synagie.com

Fact sheet C: EY Entrepreneur Of The Year judging panel and criteria

Judging panel

Dr. Shi Xu (Chairperson of judging panel)
Founder and Executive Chairman
Nanofilm Technologies International Ltd
EY Entrepreneur Of The Year 2017 Singapore
EY Entrepreneur Of The Year – Advanced Manufacturing

Dr. Zhou Lihan
Cofounder and CEO
MiRXES
EY Entrepreneur Of The Year 2021 Singapore
EY Entrepreneur Of The Year – Biotechnology

Prof. Christina Soh
Dean, College of Business (Nanyang Business School), Goh Tjoei Kok Professor in Business
Nanyang Technological University

Fang Ai Lian
Chairman, Board of Trustees
Singapore Business Federation

Png Cheong Boon
Chairman
Singapore Economic Development Board

Tan Kok Yam
Chief Executive
SkillsFuture Singapore

Chris Lee
Partner, Asia
Softbank Vision Fund

Judging criteria

The following four judging criteria sets the global standard adhered to by each and every location participating in the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year awards.

Entrepreneurial spirit

• Identifies opportunities to innovate and create a better world.
• Takes risks to realize their vision.
• Demonstrates courage, perseverance and resilience to overcome significant obstacles.

Growth

• Increases market share and expands into new markets.
• Drives positive financial performance.
• Invests in attracting, developing and retaining a diverse mix of talent.
• Builds a culture of innovation that pioneers new approaches or technologies.

Purpose

• Commits themselves and their organization to an inspiring purpose and vision.
• Drives strategies for a sustainable future business.
• Creates and protects value in the long term, across a broad group of stakeholders and ecosystems (e.g., consumers, employees, suppliers, government, communities, investors and shareholders).

Impact

• Positively impacts the customers they serve.
• Integrates sustainable Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) practices in their strategy, with robust commitments and execution plans.
• Focuses on diversity and inclusion across multiple dimensions.

Factsheet D: EY Asean Entrepreneurial Excellence Award winner profile

(Information provided by winners’ companies)

EY Asean Entrepreneurial Excellence Award

Tan Sri Sir Jeffrey Cheah KBE AO

Founder and Chairman

Sunway Group 

Quote by Tan Sri Sir Jeffrey Cheah KBE AO, Founder and Chairman, Sunway Group, Founder and Trustee, Jeffrey Cheah Foundation

“This award is for my Sunway and Jeffrey Cheah Foundation colleagues whose dedication, resilience and hard work have made a positive impact and a lasting difference on Malaysia and society.

Sunway Group will be celebrating our 50th Anniversary next year – and this award serves as an early ‘birthday present’ for everyone affiliated with the brand and the foundation.”

About Sunway Group

Established in 1974, Sunway Group is one of Southeast Asia’s leading conglomerates with 13 business divisions across more than 50 locations primarily in Asia. The 16,000-strong team is committed to sustainable development and socioeconomic progress through diverse businesses including core interests in real estate, construction, education, health care, retail and hospitality.

Sunway is committed to advancing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and continues to align them with the group’s environmental, social and governance targets as part of its corporate strategy and social responsibility toward driving long-term success and deepening commitment to nation-building.

Sunway’s three public-listed companies — Sunway Berhad, Sunway Construction Group and Sunway REIT, with a combined market capitalization of RM15b form a real-estate value chain that exemplifies socially responsible business practices.

sunway.com.my

About Tan Sri Sir Jeffrey Cheah KBE AO

Tan Sri Sir Jeffrey Cheah KBE AO is a stalwart entrepreneur and philanthropist recognized for his selfless contribution to nation-building and bold commitment to the sustainability agenda.

He established his entrepreneurship credentials by founding Sunway Group, one of Southeast Asia’s leading conglomerates.

In the realm of philanthropy, Tan Sri Sir is the founder and trustee of the Jeffrey Cheah Foundation, which has disbursed RM670m in scholarships and grants in 2023. Adopting a social enterprise model, the foundation is the largest of its kind in advancing education in Malaysia. It is Tan Sri Sir’s goal to give out several billion ringgit in scholarships in his lifetime.

Tan Sri Sir has been conferred 12 honorary doctorates by world-renowned institutions and is an Honorary Fellow of Cambridge and Oxford universities as well as a member of Harvard University's Global Advisory Council. He is the first Malaysian recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Luminary Award by Singapore-based Channel NewsAsia and was named four times as “Forbes Asia’s Hero of Philanthropy”. His honors include Order of Australia, conferred by the Australian Prime Minister.

Tan Sri Sir is 78 years old.

Factsheet E: EY Family Enterprise Award of Excellence

Winner profile, eligibility and selection criteria

(Information provided by winners’ companies)

EY Family Enterprise Award of Excellence

Ho Bee Land

Quote by Dr. Chua Thian Poh, Executive Chairman, Ho Bee Land

“I’m humbled and honored to receive this award, as this is not only an acknowledgment of our corporate achievements, but also a validation of our enduring family values and principles that have guided us on this remarkable journey. We focus not only on doing well in our business, but also on the well-being of our stakeholders, employees and the communities we serve, building a culture of care, inclusivity and sustainable growth.”

About Ho Bee Land

Ho Bee Land Limited (HBL) is a Singapore-based property developer and investor founded in 1987. Listed on the mainboard of the Singapore Exchange in 1999, HBL has a global footprint spanning Singapore, Australia, China, the UK and Europe.

In Singapore, HBL is widely recognized as the pioneer developer of luxury homes in the exclusive residential enclave of Sentosa Cove. Other notable developments include The Metropolis at one-north, the largest Grade A office development outside the Central Business District to date, and Elementum, a cutting-edge biomedical sciences development slated to be completed by end 2023.

In London, the company has a portfolio of eight investment properties, including The Scalpel, Ropemaker Place and 1 St Martin’s Le Grand.

HBL is committed towards delivering quality homes and workspaces for its stakeholders and contributing to a sustainable built environment.

About the award

The EY Family Enterprise Award of Excellence was launched in 2013 to recognize family enterprises that have made significant socioeconomic contributions and demonstrated the ability to harmonize between business and family matters. It is jointly selected by knowledge partners, Business Families Institute @ Singapore Management University and the INSEAD Wendel International Centre for Family Enterprise.

Family enterprises that have been honored include Goldbell Group, Hong Leong Group, Far East Organization, Sing Lun Holdings Pte Ltd, Tolaram Group, Jebsen & Jessen (SEA), Eu Yan Sang International, B.P. de Silva Holdings, and the Kewalram Chanrai Group.

Eligibility

• Leadership of the company includes family member(s) from second or subsequent generations, or has multiple branches of a family involved in leadership. (i.e., one individual and first generation would not qualify for the award).
• The family still has a significant ownership and voting stake and is primarily responsible for setting the strategic direction and values for the firm.
• The legal form of the company or group of companies is not relevant.
• Companies may be private or publicly traded.
• If the shares and voting rights have been transferred to a trust, it will remain to be considered as family enterprise if the family has dominant influence on the trust in a way described above.
• The business or headquarter of the business is located in Singapore.

Judging criteria

• Company shows evidence of a successful, sustainable and long term-oriented strategy.
• Company has adopted an effective and transparent corporate governance approach, enabling the execution of the desired strategy and living out of family values.
• Company governance enables unity among the ownership family (i.e., little evidence of significant family disputes impacting the business).
• Demonstrated the ability of the family to preserve company culture, tradition and values and maintain the entrepreneurial spirit and continued innovation over generations.
• Evidence shown of exceptional personnel management.
• Commitment to philanthropic causes or corporate social responsibility.
• Other exceptional achievements such as business awards, public service etc.