Early Life
Michael Kum Soh Har was born in Singapore in 1945 to parents who were hawkers. He learned the value of hard work from a young age. He graduated from the London Chamber of Commerce in 1966 with a certificate in Higher Commercial Law and Higher Costing (Cost Accounting).
Rise to Success
Kum's career began in 1969 at Marine Charters (Singapore) Pte Ltd. In 1976, he co-founded Offshore Equipment Pte Ltd to charter vessels to the oil and gas industry, and he built Miclyn Holdings into a major player in the offshore support vessel business. In 2009, after selling his shipping business, he entered the hospitality sector, establishing Grandline International Limited and M&L Hospitality. This marked his transition into becoming a hotel magnate. In 2025, M&L Group acquired Grand Hotel Maria in Helsinki, Finland, which will be rebranded as Waldorf Astoria Helsinki.
Key Business Strategies
Kum’s business strategy revolves around strategic acquisitions and a focus on maintaining and upgrading hotels. He expanded M&L Hospitality's portfolio to include 21 hotels across several countries. His daughter, Jocelyn Kum Wan Sze, plays a key role in managing the group. Kum's investments have focused on capturing global growth and hedging against market cycles.
Philanthropy
During the COVID-19 pandemic, M&L Hospitality and ibis Singapore donated over 3,200 meals to frontline healthcare workers, demonstrating Kum’s commitment to community support.