SMU Welcomes Mr Timothy Chia Chee Ming as a new Member of SMU

Singapore, 29 April 2021 (Thursday) - The Singapore Management University is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr Timothy Chia Chee Ming (谢志明) as a new Member of the University with effect from 15 April 2021. The appointment was made by the SMU Board of Trustees.

The Members of SMU, together with its Board of Trustees, are key stakeholders of the University and play an important role in the overall governance structure of SMU. Constitutionally, Members are expected to further, to the best of their abilities, “the objects, interests, and influence of the Company”. Any changes to SMU’s Constitution also require the approval of the Members. In addition, Members are required to participate in all Annual General Meetings and Extraordinary General Meetings held by SMU.

Mr Timothy Chia succeeds Dr Lee Seng Tee who has stepped down after having served as one of the founding members of SMU since January 2000. The other Members of SMU are Chairman of the SMU Board of Trustees, Mr Ho Kwon Ping and SMU Chancellor, Mr Lim Chee Onn.

Over the course of Dr Lee Seng Tee’s illustrious term as an SMU member, Dr Lee’s reputation as one of Singapore’s leading leaders of society and the corporate sector was an important factor in helping SMU build up its reputation, especially in its formative years. His association with SMU from its early days clearly signalled to society that this newly formed institution was an institution fully deserving of his support and had tremendous potential.

Taking over from Dr Lee, Mr Chia has a wealth of experience in the corporate sector, specifically in the finance, banking and insurance industry. He is Chairman of Hup Soon Global Corporation Private Limited and Gracefield Holdings Limited. He is also a Director at Banyan Tree Holdings Ltd, Fraser and Neave Limited, Singapore Power Ltd, The Straits Trading Company Limited, Ceylon Guardian Investment Trust PLC, Ceylon Investment PLC, Vertex Venture Holdings Ltd, Malaysia Smelting Corporation Berhad and Thai Beverage Public Company Limited. In 2020, he was appointed Chairman of InnoVen Capital Private Limited and its group of companies. He was also a former member of the SMU Board of Trustees. His CV can be found in the Annex.

Mr Ho Kwon Ping, Chairman of the SMU Board of Trustees, said, “SMU is privileged to have Mr Timothy Chia as our new Member and we look forward to his deep wealth of knowledge and experiences that will take SMU forward as we are in the midst of our 21st year as a global-city university in Asia. I would also like to extend our heartfelt appreciation to Dr Lee Seng Tee for his leadership and guidance as a founding member of SMU. His attendance at important university events and general meetings; and interactions with university colleagues will always be remembered with much gratitude.