Early Life
Kwek Leng Beng was born in 1941. His father, Kwek Hong Png, founded the Hong Leong Group in Singapore. Kwek Leng Beng trained as a lawyer in London before joining the family business in the early 1960s. At the age of 17, Kwek interned at Hong Leong and earned a salary of $150 a month. He studied law at the University of London, where he received an LLB.
Rise to Success
Kwek Leng Beng became the chairman of Hong Leong Group in 1990, establishing an international reputation for his leadership. Under his leadership, Hong Leong Group grew into a conglomerate of over 300 companies, including 12 listed ones. He also became the chairman of City Developments Limited (CDL), an international property and hotel conglomerate and the leading real estate developer in Singapore. Kwek led CDL's takeover in 1972 and transformed the loss-making company into one of Singapore's biggest landlords and hotel owners. He acquired a string of hotels to form the Millennium & Copthorne chain, including the high-profile acquisition of the Plaza Hotel in New York with Saudi prince Alwaleed Bin Talal in 1995.
Key Business Strategies
Kwek's key business strategies include strategic diversification into investment properties and expanding CDL's global presence. In 1989, he launched CDL Hotels and listed the company in Hong Kong, further expanding the hotel portfolio. Kwek is known for his pragmatic approach to business, which has led to his success in the industry.
Philanthropy
Kwek Leng Beng is a member of the board of trustees of the Singapore Management University.