Singapore Institute Of Directors Nabs PR Veteran Emily Poon As New CEO

(MENAFN- PRovoke) SINGAPORE - The Singapore Institute of Directors (SID) has appointed Emily Poon as its new chief executive officer (CEO). She will join as CEO-designate from 1 March and succeed Terence Quek, the current CEO, from 1 May.

Poon brings with her over 20 years of experience and deep industry knowledge from her time as former president, Asia Pacific, of Ogilvy Public Relations. An accredited director and member of SID, Poon actively contributes to shaping governance standards across corporate, academic and public sector platforms.

She serves on the Industry Advisory Council at the National University of Singapore (Faculty of Arts & Social Sciences), the Families for Life Council under the Ministry of Social and Family Development, and the executive committee of Singapore Management University's Leading Executives and Directors Alumni Group.

SID Chair Yeoh Oon Jin said he is looking forward to working with Poon on advancing SID's mission of transforming boards and empowering directors to be champions of good governance.“The council went through an extensive search for candidates, supported by an executive search firm. We were looking for someone with the right attributes to take SID forward: industry experience across geographies, passion about our mission, and a firm commitment in the belief that SID has an important role to play in raising standards of governance here and in the region,” he said.

“I believe we have found the right person in Emily with her strong track record in leadership roles, deep expertise in engaging diverse stakeholders, building trusted communities and partnerships, as well as her advisory experience in boards and governance-related areas," he added.

Yeoh also thanked Quek for his service to SID over the past four years, noting that he has contributed significantly to the growth of the organisation. During Quek's tenure, SID's membership diversified and grew from 3,300 to over 5,500, with the number of activities for members more than doubling. It also launched the SID Accreditation Programme, SID Chairpersons Guild, and SID Board Academy, among other initiatives. Working with the SID team, he also helped elevate SID's position globally, building partnerships with regional organisations and working with international bodies to elevate the profession of directorship.

“It has been an honour and a privilege to serve SID over the past few years as its CEO. I have received tremendous support from the council, volunteers, partners and the executive team - all of whom have helped us build on the strong foundation laid by many since 1998 to bring SID to where it is today. SID is a national institution that not only serves its members, uplifts the directorship community, but also actively contributes to the ecosystem locally and beyond. I am confident that Emily and team will do a stellar job bringing the institution forward, and I look forward to continue serving the institution in my capacity as its member,” said Quek.

Poon went on to say that she is delighted to join SID, an organisation she has had a deep affiliation with, as a member and accredited director.“I look forward to working with the council and team at the Singapore Institute of Directors to further our mission at a time when the role of directors is transforming and becoming even more critical in a rapidly changing world. Singapore has a strong corporate governance ecosystem, and SID plays a distinctive role as the national association for directors,” she said.

“Having previously worked closely with boards and leadership teams to represent the perspectives of companies, I am privileged to now serve the director community. In the coming months, I look forward to listening closely to our members, engaging our partners, and building on the strong foundation and momentum laid by Terence and the team. My focus remains on supporting our members, nurturing a strong community of directors, and growing SID's ecosystem of partnerships and influence in Singapore and internationally," she added.

Poon stepped down from her role as president of Ogilvy PR Asia in July last year after a 17-year career at the firm and five years in her current role.

“My past 17 years at Ogilvy have been truly transformative and enriching on so many levels. It has also been my privilege leading Ogilvy PR in APAC for the past five years. Ogilvy is more than a workplace, it is a community where I found lifelong learnings and lasting bonds in shared purpose," said Poon at the time.

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