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You may have heard of the old proverb, “from shirtsleeves to shirtsleeves in three generations”. Indeed, reports have shown that approximately 70% of wealthy families lose their wealth by the second generation, and an incredible 90% by the third. A study has shown that 60% of the time, the biggest factor is due to communication breakdown amongst family members, with 25% of the time being a lack of effective wealth planning.
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The increased focus on related party transactions, both globally and in Singapore, is apparent. In this age where the amount of cross-border transactions continue to grow and companies continuously look for ways to increase their profits through various means, tax authorities in many countries are keeping up with the trends to ensure that companies are paying the appropriate amount of taxes in their respective territories.
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Legislative changes to the Companies Act, Chapter 50 (“Act”) including: AGMs and ARs timelines, Restrictions on changing FYE, AGM Exemption, as well as Simplified process for AR filing for Solvent Exempt Private Companies (“EPCs”) and Private Dormant Relevant Companies, will take effect on 31 August 2018 for companies with financial year end (FYE) ending on or after 31 August 2018.
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In this interview, Henry Tan discusses the potential of the ASEAN region, Singapore’s competitive advantages and Nexia TS Group’s unique personalized service offering to its clients across Asia. On the topic of digitalization and the adoption of new technologies such as data analytics, Mr. Tan says that “you must be forward looking and technologically savvy in order to lead.”
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Mr Titus Kuan
Director
Assurance & Technical
DID: +65 6597 2792
Email: tituskuan@nexiats.com.sg
Professional Experience
Titus has over 15 years of experience in the accounting and auditing profession where he spent 12 years in one of the Big Four accounting firms including a 2-year secondment to London. During his career there, he handled both assurance engagements and learning & development (L&D) function for the firm.
Subsequently, he joined the Institute of Chartered Accountants (ISCA) as its technical and L&D director responsible for technical advisory work covering Auditing, Assurance, FRS, Corporate Reporting and Ethics. He also oversaw the CPE department focusing on members’ professional development.
Prior to his new appointment, Titus held the position of Associate Director since he joined the firm in 2017. Apart from managing an audit portfolio, he will continue to take charge of delivering quality-training program, and lead the Technical & Quality Control department by providing technical advisory support to the firm. He also trains externally for ISCA courses and the Singapore Chartered Accountants Qualification program.
Credentials
Professional Experience
Grace has been in the international trade business for more than 10 years. She provides international expansion and investment consultancy services to newly established international trading and manufacturing companies. She is familiar with international trade compliance, Incoterms, FTA, UCP, international trade financing, and international trade risk control and management.
Prior to setting up AccessGlobal, she headed the China Practice Group in one of the largest accounting firms in Singapore. She provided consultancy services to Chinese companies setting up businesses in Singapore and overseas on company registration, Singapore corporate Law, corporate structure and Singapore tax systems etc. She has successfully assisted in the set up for many prominent Chinese companies in Singapore and globally.
AccessGlobal is a member group of companies of Nexia TS.
Credentials
Professional Experience
Chong Yong started his career in Audit with KPMG for 5 years, and thereafter over 20 years in managerial positions and directorships spanning across finance, analytics software sales, advisory and consulting.
Over the years, Chong Yong has successfully built and led the implementation of Management Executive, Sales, CRM, Human Resource, Accounts Receivables, Procurement Data Visualisation applications to help organisations gain insights for better decision making. Beyond Data Visualisation, he has also implemented Balanced Scorecard, Financial Reporting and Consolidation, Budgeting and Planning application to drive Enterprise Performance Management.
He has worked on numerous Data Analytics projects with the government agencies, enterprises from listed companies in the Singapore Stock Exchange, and MNCs in various industries ranging from investment, retail and distribution, media and entertainment, higher institute of learning and logistics.
Credentials
Ms Pamela Chen
Director
Head of Internal Audit
& Sustainability Reporting
DID: +65.6597 5807
Email: pamelachen@nexiats.com.sg
Professional Experience
Pamela has more than 10 years of experience in internal controls advisory, compliance, external audit and sustainability reporting. Prior to joining Nexia TS, she was involved in various internal and external audit engagements for clients from medium to major listed organisations with a Big Four accounting firm.
Pamela has served clients in diverse industries including property development and hotel management, manufacturing, interior design & exhibition, oil & gas, food & beverage, architectural services, education, trading and retail as well as government bodies with exposure in countries such as China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Taiwan, Vietnam, Australia, United States of America, Korea and Dubai.
Credentials
Mr Sitoh Yih Pin
Chairman
DID: +65.6538 8744
Email: sitoh@nexiats.com.sg
Professional Experience
Sitoh Yih Pin, co-founder and chairman of Nexia TS. Currently, he is the Member of Parliament for Potong Pasir constituency.
Sitoh’s professional experience includes involvement in statutory audits, mergers and acquisitions and initial public offerings etc. He is also an independent director in several public listed companies.
Ms Flora Luo
Director Global Expansion & Tax Advisory
Nexia TS Shanghai Co., Ltd
DID: +86 21 60478716
Email: floraluo@nexiats.com.cn
Professional Experience
Flora has more than 12 years of business consulting experience in China. She has been successfully assisting international corporations to expand their businesses in China, either through cross-border transactions or by registering foreign-invested entities in China. In this role she has performed a variety of valuable services for overseas clients. Fluent in Chinese tax, corporate and employment law, she performs related research and analyses, helping clients to find and implement solutions for issues that arise from the complexities of doing business in China.
As the Director of the Nexia TS China Global Expansion & Tax Advisory team, Flora not only acts as China office liaison for foreign clients, but she also maintains excellent working relationships with Chinese government agencies She provides a wide range of consulting services, including taxation analysis and problem-solving, company structure analyses, feasibility studies, company investigations and due diligence investigations, as well as providing complete services related to setting up and structuring companies in China. Assisting our clients with mergers & acquisitions or share transfers, Flora works with our international tax advisors and planning team to provide solutions for tax savings and compliance.
Credentials
Tel: +44 (0)20 7131 4865
Email: nasoul.gopal@smith.williamson.co.uk
Professional Experience
Nasoul has worked on Monitoring Trustee appointments since 2004 and joined Smith & Williamson in November 2010. He previously spent almost 10 years at KPMG where he worked on audit, M&A transactions and compliance engagements.
Nasoul has monitored compliance with both divestment and behavioural remedies in merger control and antitrust cases in the EC and globally including:
AT.39964 – Air France / KLM / Alitalia / Delta
CCS (Singapore) – SEEK/JobStreet
M.6690 / CADE: Syniverse / MACH
Nasoul is also familiar with China’s MOFCOM merger clearance procedures and visits Beijing regularly.
Nasoul is known to and dealt with a number of antitrust lawyers in Singapore, Malaysia, China and Hong Kong.
As an accomplished linguist, Nasoul can work in English, Italian, Spanish and French and has a working knowledge of Portuguese and German.
Mr Lee Tze Shiong
Director
Transformation and Quality & Principal, Assurance
DID: +65.6597 5804
Email: leetzeshiong@nexiats.com.sg
Professional Experience
Tze Shiong has a total of more than 25 years of audit experience, most of which were with the large international audit firms. Prior to joining Nexia TS, he was the Divisional Director of the Public Accountancy Division of the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA).
In ACRA, he was the Assistant Registrar for the Public Accountants overseeing the Practice Monitoring and Professional Oversight Departments.
Prior to joining ACRA, Tze Shiong spearheaded the Small and Medium Sized Enterprise (SME) audit group in one of the Big 4 accounting firms in Singapore. He also assumed the business development role for the SME audit group as well as the firm’s Audit Innovation Program.
Tze Shiong was involved in the audit of listed and multi-national groups, initial public offerings and other audit advisory engagements. He worked in different oversea offices of the Big 4 accounting firms, which included Australia, China, Hong Kong and South East Asia.
Credentials
Mr David Alexander
Fraud & Financial Crime Investigations – Forensic Services
Smith & Williamson LLP
Tel: +44 (0)20 7131 8290 or
+44 (0)121 710 5260
Email: david.alexander@smith.williamson.co.uk
Professional Experience
David has been specialising in Forensic Accounting since 1991. He is a qualified Chartered Accountant and a member of Fraud Advisory Panel and the London & Midland Fraud Forums as well as Regent Emeritus and past president of the UK chapter of the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE).
David has carried out over 200 investigations involving false accounting, procurement fraud, theft, allegations of impropriety, banking and treasury fraud. Many of these investigations have involved international locations including the USA, Caribbean, Far East and Europe.
David holds an ICAEW practicing certificate. He regularly speaks on forensic accounting, fraud and anti-money laundering at training courses on behalf of an international training organisation.
Mr Doug Hall
Commercial Disputes & International Arbitration
Head of Forensic Services at Smith & Williamson LLP
Tel: +44 (0)20 7131 4048
Email: doug.hall@smith.williamson.co.uk
Professional Experience
Doug has specialised in forensic accounting for over 25 years acting for Claimants and Defendants/Respondents in a wide variety of commercial disputes in the UK and internationally.
He has given evidence in the High Court, before International Arbitrations and other tribunals on numerous occasions and contributed to the successful resolution of disputes by negotiation and mediation.
Doug takes a leading and hands-on approach in expert witness assignments, typically heading a small team with limited delegation, enabling him to give credible oral evidence. Doug has acted in a wide range of commercial disputes including:
Credentials
Mr Izanee Ariffin
Manager
Malaysia Technology Advisory
DID: +6012 355 1959
Email: izanee@nexiats.com.sg
Professional Experience
Izanee is a pioneer in the field of Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) & Software Licensing Audit engagement in Malaysia. With more than 14 years of experience in dealing with IPR issues and investigation, he is well versed with the many challenges and has provided highly creative and practical solutions to clients.
Prior to joining Nexia TS, Izanee was a specialist in Consultancy on Intellectual Property Rights and Enforcement raids action with Ministry of Domestic Trade, Co-operatives and Consumerism (MDTCC) in Malaysia. His expertise has led him to become a Product Expert Witness for companies such as Microsoft Corporation, Sony, Nokia, AutoCAD, Tekla, BMW and many more.
Izanee has established a strong relationship with the Government Bodies and other Agencies in Malaysia, such as the Ministry of Domestic and Trade Consumer Affairs (MDTCA), Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) and Royal Malaysia Customs (KDRM).
Credentials
Mr Darwin Thio
Director
Forensic & Litigation Support Services, Cybersecurity & Technology Advisory
DID: +65 6597 5802
Email: darwinthio@nexiats.com.sg
Professional Experience
Darwin has 17 years of working experience in the arena of legal, compliance, risk management, fraud investigation and processes review. He spent 9 years working for Singapore Ministry of Home Affairs before stepping foot into the private sector.
Over the years, Darwin has worked in US listed IT MNCs, reputable FMCG retail and the banking sector. Leveraging on his knowledge on legal, compliance and processes, he has investigated into many multi-millions fraud cases occurring both internally and externally. Through these investigations and processes review, he has developed a knack to identify key risks and integrate the necessary controls into easy to understand/manage workflows for the business.
Aside this, Darwin was an adjutant lecturer in a local Polytechnic teaching law enforcers pursuing Advance Diploma in Police Studies. He specialises in topics such as Criminology, Victimology and Human Dynamics.
Credentials
Mr Tennant Chong Chee Boon
Manager
Technology Advisory
ID: +65.6534 5700 (ext. 878)
Email: tennantchong@nexiats.com.sg
Professional Experience
Tennant has more than 16 years experience in Information Technology industry. Prior to joining Nexia TS, Tennant worked with a bank, GLCs and system integrator companies specializing in IT security.
Tennant Chong has relevant experience in assessing and reviewing information security compliance with various government ministries and agencies as well as in a broad range of industries such as financial services, healthcare, manufacturing and telecommunications.
Credentials
Mr Ross Y. Limjoco
Director
Assurance & M&A
DID: +65.6597 5806
Email: rossyulimjoco@nexiats.com.sg
Professional Experience
Ross is a Corporate Advisory Director, primarily handling audit services and M&A engagements. He possesses a wealth of over 20 years professional services experience working in international accounting firms, plus a stint as CFO of a Singapore main-board listed company, prior to joining Nexia. Apart from his vast exposure in assurance, business & transaction advisory, and corporate finance services, Ross has managed both local and cross-border IPOs, M&As, financial due diligence, valuation, fund-raising and corporate restructuring exercises, including Rule 144A filing. He has been involved for such services in diverse industries for companies from Singapore and most other Asian countries, Australia, Germany, Israel, Russia and the USA.
Credentials
Mr Tan Kah Leong
Director
Technology
DID: +65.6597 5805
Email: tankahleong@nexiats.com.sg
Professional Experience
Kah Leong has more than 10 years of experience in forensic technology and information security field. He has been involved in more than 300 computer forensic assignments, trained more than 100 computer forensic professionals and law enforcement officers in EnCase® Computer Forensic courses.
Prior to joining Nexia TS, Kah Leong was the CTO of a company specialising in computer forensic and investigation services. He was formerly the Information Security Officer of Credit Suisse.
Credentials
Ms Chan Siew Ting
Director
Assurance
DID: +65.6597 7290
Email: chansiewting@nexiats.com.sg
Professional Experience
Siew Ting joined Nexia TS in 2010 and has 14 years of experience in the industry. Before Nexia TS, she worked in an international accounting firm. She provides assurance services to public listed companies, multinational companies and small and medium enterprises. She covers a wide range of industries which include recycling and renewable waste disposal, trading, manufacturing and construction, property developer, service and shipping. She has also been involved in IPO projects where the firm functions as reporting accountants.
Credentials
Ms Meriana Ang
Director
Assurance
DID: +65.6597 7298
Email: merianaang@nexiats.com.sg
Professional Experience
Meriana has a total of 11 years of experience with Nexia TS. She has been involved in providing assurance services for public listed companies, multinational corporations and small and medium enterprises. These companies cover a wide spectrum of industries including construction and real estate development, oil and gas exploration, manufacturing, shipping, trading, retailing, service providers and non-profit organisations. Her audit clients include public listed companies with operations overseas, such as Myanmar, Indonesia, Malaysia and China.
Meriana has also been involved in Initial Public Offering (IPO) and Reverse Takeover (RTO) projects where the firm functions as reporting accountants, accounting advisory jobs for IFRS conversion and due diligence reviews for clients making significant investment acquisitions.
Credentials
Mr Edwin Leow
Director, Head of Tax
DID: +65.6536 1312
Email: edwinleow@nexiats.com.sg
Professional Experience
Passionate about tax, Edwin has since his graduation, accumulated more than two decades of professional experience in both international and Singapore taxation arenas. Throughout his career, Edwin has gained a wealth of experience and is equipped with extensive knowledge in providing advisory and compliance services covering all key areas of taxation: Corporate Tax, Individual Tax, Goods and Services Tax, Transfer Pricing and Stamp Duty, making him a proficient tax advisor for issues which cut across a spectrum of taxation matters.
Edwin has, in his current capacity and past employment with top tier international accounting firms, served multinational companies, publicly listed and private companies spanning various industries such as trading, manufacturing, construction, property development, shipping, oil and gas, information technology, media and advertising, pharmaceutical, hospitality, logistics, investment, fund management and private wealth services.
Edwin also enriched his experience during his stint in a regional headquarter of a French MNC, giving him a deep appreciation of tax issues from the clients’ perspective.
Edwin currently heads the Tax Department in delivering the full suite of tax services to our clients in:
Credentials
Ms Lisa Zhang
Assurance Partner
Shanghai Nexia TS Certified Public Accountants
Email: lisazhang@nexiats.com.cn
Professional Experience
Lisa Zhang is the chief partner of Shanghai Nexia TS Certified Public Accountants. She specialises in audit and accounting. Her experience extends to a diverse range of industries including services, retailing, manufacturing, trading, logistics, constructions, shipping and investment holdings.
She has 15 years of professional experience specialising in audit and accounting services in China. Lisa has been involved in external audit, internal audit and control assurance in many companies including large and medium sized enterprises in China. She is also involved in Pre-IPO consultancy and business advisory work including due diligence review and assistance of internal control. She is familiar with the US GAAP and the US GAAS.
She has been qualified as one of leading CPAs in Shanghai since 2011 with excellent services in audit and consulting.
Credentials
Mr Low See Lien
Assurance, Technical & Quality Control
DID: +65.6597 5803
Email: lowseelien@nexiats.com.sg
Professional Experience
See Lien is an Assurance Director with more than 11 years of professional experience. His clients included listed companies, multinational companies and statutory boards. His industries experience consists of oil and gas, technology, manufacturing, media and communication and retail.
He was previously from a Big 4 accounting firm. During the time with his previous employer, he was seconded to the United States for 18 months and from this secondment, he has gained extensive knowledge of US reporting requirements, including the Sarbanes-Oxley Act
Credentials
Ms Pamela Chen
Director
Internal Audit & Risk Management
DID: +65.6597 5807
Email: pamelachen@nexiats.com.sg
Professional Experience
Pamela has more than 10 years of experience in internal controls advisory, compliance, external audit and sustainability reporting. Prior to joining Nexia TS, she was involved in various internal and external audit engagements for clients from medium to major listed organisations with a Big Four accounting firm.
Pamela has served clients in diverse industries including property development and hotel management, manufacturing, interior design & exhibition, oil & gas, food & beverage, architectural services, education, trading and retail as well as government bodies with exposure in countries such as China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Taiwan, Vietnam, Australia, United States of America, Korea and Dubai.
Credentials
Mr Tan Swee Wan
Director
Forensic & Litigation Support
DID: +65.6597 5802
Email: tansweewan@nexiats.com.sg
Professional Experience
Swee Wan has managed numerous corporate fraud investigation in criminal, civil, and internal corporate matters. Prior to joining Nexia TS, Swee Wan founded a company specialising in computer forensic and investigation services.
While he was the Head of Investigation, Asia Pacific of an American MNC, he had successfully investigated FCPA breaches in China, Malaysia and Indonesia. Swee Wan was also the former Head of Financial Fraud Branch and Head of Computer Crime Branch of the Criminal Investigation Department of the Singapore Police Force.
Other Professional Experience
Credentials
Ms Loh Hui Nee
Director
Assurance & Talent Director
DID: +65.6597 5801
Email: lohhuinee@nexiats.com.sg
Professional Experience
Hui Nee has over 12 years of working experience in an international accounting firm focusing on assurance services in public listed companies, multinational corporations and small and medium enterprises. Her exposure covers a wide range of industries which include recycling & renewable energy, trading, manufacturing & construction, bio-technology & pharmaceutical, service, oil & gas, and non-profit organization. She is also involved in IPO projects where the firm functions as reporting accountants and due-diligence reviews for clients making significant investment acquisitions.
Credentials
Ms Christine Lee
Director
Assurance
DID: +65.6597 5800
Email: christinelee@nexiats.com.sg
Professional Experience
Christine has a total of 12 years experiences, 11 of which with Nexia TS. She specializes in audit in Singapore and China. She was in our Shanghai office for a period of 2 years. She has been involved in audit advisory services in public listed companies, multinational corporations and small and medium enterprises.
Her industries experiences cover manufacturing, technology, construction, trading, and services. She is also involved in IPO projects where the firm functions as reporting accountants and due-diligence reviews for clients making significant investment acquisitions.
Credentials
Ms Grace Lui
Director
Valuation & Transaction Services
DID: +65.6597 7297
Email: gracelui@nexiats.com.sg
Professional Experience
Grace oversees the Transactions and Valuation Advisory Services at Nexia TS. She has been involved in various aspects of business advisory work including pre-IPO advisory, reporting accountants, business valuation, valuation for financial reporting and financial due diligence.
She has performed internal controls reviews, financial reviews and business planning for various companies. To-date, her industry experience covers manufacturing, electronics distribution, construction, restaurant management, retail, marine and telecommunication.
Credentials
Mr Chan Yee Hong
Director
Financial Advisory, Insolvency & Restructuring
DID: +65 6597 7292
Email: yeehongchan@nexiats.com.sg
Professional Experience
Mr Chan Yee Hong has more than 25 years of investigation and insolvency experience involving private and public companies from diverse industries.
Yee Hong has investigated into allegations of fraud, corruption, breach of fiduciary duties by directors and senior employees, breaches of The Companies Act, performed funds and asset tracing across sovereign boundaries, background checks of individuals and corporates, and quantifying losses suffered arising from fraudulent acts.
In addition, Yee Hong has handled all forms of company liquidation, judicial management, receivership, financial advisory, monitoring, special audit and debt restructuring of companies.
Yee Hong has also provided expert opinion on matters relating to shareholders’ dispute, accounting, matrimonial and Estate claims, subsidiary proprietors’ disputes over Strata Title projects, and quantification of losses, anti-competition review, and has given testimony in Court in relation to expert opinion rendered.
Credentials
Mr Philip JC Tan
Director
Assurance & Capital Market Transaction
DID: +65.6597 7296
Email: philipjctan@nexiats.com.sg
Professional Experience
Philip has been involved in audits covering a wide range and spectrum of industries including construction and real estate development, property management, shipping, manufacturing, transportation, plantation, trading and retail. Philip has serviced local listed companies in Malaysia and Singapore as well as US, Japanese, European and UK based multinational companies.
In the last 3 years, Philip has been actively involved in capital market transactions in Singapore, including initial public offerings (“IPO”), reverse takeovers and other capital market transactions. In these transactions, he had project-led the accounting work streams to ensure Milestones & Accolades were met and applicable regulations were complied. This also involved liaising with investment banks and law firms on financial information disclosure requirements.
Credentials
Mr Loh Ji Kin
Assurance Leader,
Assurance
DID: +65.6597 7295
Email: lohjikin@nexiats.com.sg
Professional Experience
Ji Kin has over 20 years of audit experience. He spent almost 15 years with an international accounting firm, serving a number of roles. In an assurance capacity, he served clients in statutory audits and other special assignments for both listed companies and large MNCs. In a different capacity, Ji Kin played an integral role in the internal technical department, primarily focused on auditing standards and audit quality, including external reporting, in both audit and non-audit services. He also played a key role in conducting training in accounting standards, audit methodology and related soft skills, including project and client management.
Ji Kin currently heads our Assurance department, working with the Group CEO in managing at both the firm and department operations level. He also serves as engagement partner for our audit clients, which includes a spectrum of publicly listed and private clients spanning various industries, as well as some not-for-profit organisations. In recent years, he has acted as the Reporting Auditor for a number of successful IPOs on both the Mainboard and Catalist Board of SGX-ST. He is also currently a member of the ISCA Financial Reporting Committee.
Credentials
Mr Chin Chee Choon
Advisory Leader
DID: +65.6597 7291
Email: ccchin@nexiats.com.sg
Professional Experience
Chee Choon has more than 20 years of collective experience in Assurance and Auditing, Corporate Governance, Internal Audit, Risk Management and Advisory and IPOs.
He currently heads the firm’s Risk Advisory and Outsourcing and Business Advisory Services. Chee Choon is involved in the internal audit reviews of companies listed on the Singapore Stock Exchange from various industries including food and beverages, manufacturing, telecommunication, trading, oil and gas, and also non-profit organisation. Other advisory work includes special reviews such as fraud investigation, pre-IPO internal control review and review of internal control manuals.
Chee Choon is also the engagement and signing director for the statutory audit of companies from various industries and sizes including companies listed on the Singapore Stock Exchange (“SGX”). These companies include companies in the oil & gas (exploration and production), property development and construction, shipping and marine, manufacturing, electronics and publishing industries. He was also involved in IPO projects where the firm functions as reporting accountants for two companies in the food and beverage industry and construction related companies.
He is also a member of the Audit Committee of Nexia International where his roles include performing Quality Control Reviews (QCR) of global Nexia member firms and also potential new firms or review QCR Reports prepared by other audit committee members to be approved by Nexia International Board Members.
Outside of work, Chee Choon served in the Board of Governors and Treasurer of the Spirit of Enterprise, a non-profit organisation promoting and honoring entrepreneurship among youth in Singapore.
Credentials
Mr Henry Tan
Group CEO & Chief Innovation Officer
DID: +65.6536 5466
Email: henrytan@nexiats.com.sg
Professional Experience
Henry Tan, Group CEO & Chief Innovation Officer of Nexia TS, has been serving as advisor to clients in Singapore and the region. As Group CEO, he manages the firm and grows its footprint to a major player in the market.
Henry assisted companies especially entrepreneurs since 1993 to grow their business in Asia through IPO, M&A, Accounting & other advisory. He has many years of experience in China market. Henry also sits on the board of a number of listed companies.
Other Professional Experiences
Credentials
