Board of Directors

First appointed : 21 August 1970

Last re-elected : 25 April 2018

Mr Teo joined the Group as Non-Executive Director in 1970 and became an Executive Director in 1982, where he was responsible for the development of Amara Hotel, marking the Group’s entry into the hotel industry. Currently he serves as the Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board, as well as a member of the Nominating Committee.

Mr Teo has been instrumental in spearheading the direction and development of the Group. He plays a pivotal role in the Group’s diversification and expansion strategy, particularly in broadening Amara’s earnings base through penetration within the Asian region.

As the Group’s Chief Executive Officer, Mr Teo is passionately involved in the Group’s corporate developments, including the transformation of Amara Singapore, as well as the Group’s entry into the resort hotel business, Amara Sanctuary Resort, Sentosa.

Under his leadership, the Group’s recurring earnings have been further strengthened with the revamped and rebranded mall - 100 AM, located in the heart of the Tanjong Pagar district, which was successfully opened in November 2012. The Group’s recurring income streams have been broadened through projects such as Amara Bangkok, a business hotel development in Bangkok CBD, which was opened in 2015; Amara Signature Shanghai which soft opened in February 2018; as well as 100 AM Shanghai which comprises an office building and retail centre. Mr Teo is committed in building the Amara brand as a homegrown Singaporean brand competing alongside international hospitality players.

Mr Teo brings with him a wealth of experience to the Group. His past experience includes working with Pricewaterhouse (currently known as PwC), an international public accounting firm; a large listed group involved in wholesaling, manufacturing and retailing; and an international bank in Singapore.

Currently, Mr Teo serves as a board member of Singapore Hotel Association (SHA) and has been a board member since September 2005.  He was the President of SHA from July 2015 to June 2019.  Mr Teo was also Chairman of Singapore Hotel and Tourism Education Centre (SHATEC) from July 2006 to June 2015.  

Mr Teo holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Western Australia and is a member of Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand and the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators of London.

First appointed : 26 May 1995

Last re-elected : 29 April 2019

Ms Susan Teo has held the position of Company Secretary since 14 September 1984.

Her past experience includes working with an international public accounting firm in Singapore and Australia.

In her current role, Ms Teo has direct oversight of the function of the corporate affairs of the Group which includes treasury, finance, legal, company secretarial, human resource and administration.

Ms Teo holds a Bachelor of Business (Distinction) degree from the Western Australian Institute of Technology and a Graduate Diploma in Computer Science from La Trobe University. She is a member of the Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand and the Institute of Singapore Chartered Accountants.

First appointed : 26 May 1995

Last re-elected : 29 April 2019

Mr Lawrence Mok has been a Director of the Company since May 1995. He is a member of the Audit Committee as well as the Remuneration Committee.

Mr Mok has more than 40 years of experience in the Information Technology and Engineering industries. His experience includes financial and management accounting, treasury management, corporate planning, change management, quality and workplace safety and health process management, customer service operations management, and general business management.

Currently, Mr Mok is a consultant in business operations and risk management. He holds a Bachelor of Accountancy (Honours) degree from the University of Singapore and is a Fellow of the Institute of Singapore Chartered Accountants and CPA Australia.

First appointed : 17 June 2013

Last re-elected : 09 June 2020

Mr Foo Ko Hing joined Amara Holdings Limited’s Board in June 2013 and was appointed as a member of Remuneration Committee in October 2013, and the Chairman of the Audit Committee and a member of Nominating Committee in April 2017.

He has over 16 years of experience in investment origination, structuring, monitoring and strategic growth assistance, with emphasis on the venture debt/equity investment and capital markets. He has previously served on the Boards of numerous SGX-listed companies in various sectors.

After leaving Pricewaterhouse (currently known as PwC) in 1986, Mr Foo joined HSBC Group Singapore in the Trust and Fiduciary Business. He was later seconded to HSBC Bank Jersey C.I. in 1989 and was subsequently promoted to Executive Director, covering fiduciary activities, private banking, compliance and investment functions. He returned to Singapore in 1991 and resumed responsibilities with HSBC Investment Bank Group for Private Banking and Trust Services as an Executive Director and Head of Business Development.

Mr Foo is the Singapore-based Co-Founder and Director of Cerealtech Pte Ltd, an advance manufacturing and food technology company specializing in enzyme application and micro ingredient development for the industrial baking and consumer sector. He also currently sits on the Board of Gallant Venture Ltd, a company listed on the SGX Mainboard, and is a member of the Audit, Remuneration and Nominating Committees.

He holds an Honours degree in Economics and Accounting from University of Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK.

First appointed : 2 November 2015

Last re-elected : 09 June 2020

Mr Chia Kwok Ping was appointed to the Board of Amara Holdings Limited in November 2015. He was appointed as the Chairman of the Nominating Committee in April 2017 and is also a member of the Audit Committee as well as the Remuneration Committee since April 2017.

Mr  Chia brings with him over 20 years of experience in the hospitality industry, and has held senior positions in various hospitality and property investment companies. He previously represented TCC Land Co., Ltd for all of its international property acquisitions and management via TCC Land International. The Thailand-based hospitality and property group has assets spanning across the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, China, Japan and South-East Asia.

Mr  Chia has extensive hands-on experience in hospitality management, having taken on the roles of Resident Manager, General Manager, Owner Representative and Asset Manager during his career. He also sat on the Board of the Singapore Hotel Association from 2010 to 2014, and has been an Independent Director, Chairman of Nominating Committee and Member of Remuneration Committee of Heeton Holdings Limited, a company listed on the SGX Mainboard since 2012.   

Mr Chia holds a Bachelors of Business Administration (Honours) degree from the National University of Singapore.

First appointed : 21 June 2018

Last re-elected : 29 April 2019

Mr Tan Tiong Cheng joined the Board of Amara Holdings Limited in June 2018. He was appointed as the Chairman of the Remuneration Committee and a member of the Audit Committee in August 2018.

Mr Tan is currently the Senior Advisor to Knight Frank Pte Ltd and Knight Frank Asia Pacific Pte Ltd. He was President of Knight Frank Asia Pacific Pte Ltd until 31 March 2019, and was the Executive Chairman of Knight Frank Pte Ltd's Group of Companies until 31 March 2017. Over the last four decades, he has amassed an extensive and in-depth knowledge of real estate. Mr Tan sits on the Boards of The Straits Trading Company Limited, UOL Group Limited and Heeton Holdings Limited as an Independent and Non-Executive Director. He is a member of the Remuneration Committee with The Straits Trading Company Limited and a member of the Audit and Risk Committee with UOL Group Limited. He is also the Lead Independent Director, Chairman of the Remuneration Committee and a member of the Audit Committee and Nominating Committee of Heeton Holdings Limited.  

A Colombo Plan Scholar, Mr Tan graduated top of his class with a Diploma in Urban Valuation from the University of Auckland, New Zealand. A Licensed Appraiser, he is also a Fellow Member of the Singapore Institute of Valuers and Surveyors and of the Association of Property and Facilities Management, an Associate Member of the New Zealand Institute of Valuers, and a Senior Member of The Property Institute of New Zealand. He served as a member of the Valuation Review Board until 30 April 2016.