Surbana Jurong CEO to step down
Surbana Jurong (SJ) Group announced that its group CEO Sean Chiao will retire on July 31, after three years at the helm.
The group credits him with steering its transformation agenda and anchoring its enterprise approach.
Chaly Mah, SJ Group chairman, said in a statement that the board has commenced a “global search” for Chiao’s successor.
Mah will assume the role of executive chairman in the interim to manage the group’s key operations.
“The board and management team are focused on ensuring a seamless transition,” he added.
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Chiao joined SJ Group as group CEO in April 2023.
Under his charge, the group made significant progress in becoming a leading global architecture, engineering and construction player.
This includes unifying its businesses and brands around a shared vision and culture framework.
Chiao also “strengthened and refreshed the senior leadership team through a combination of high-calibre internal appointments and external hires”.
A recent addition to SJ Group was former Building and Construction Authority CEO Kelvin Wong, who was appointed group chief commercial officer and regional head for Asia.
From July 1, Wong will lead its commercial strategy across the “full client life cycle”, from market positioning and business development to contract client management.
He will also oversee the Asia market, which accounted for more than half the group’s global workforce and more than 60 per cent of its global revenue in 2025.
Chiao said he will retire from the role “knowing that the group has the talent, the global platform and the ambition to go even further as it builds a resilient, regenerative future”.
SJ Group credited Chiao with reshaping the group’s operating model into a globally integrated one, and sharpening its focus on operational excellence.
The group remains well-positioned to deliver on its strategic priorities while upholding its commitment to clients, colleagues and communities around the world.
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According to the report, Chiao will retire after a successful tenure, leaving behind a strong legacy for his successor to build upon.
SJ Group’s transformation agenda has been a key focus area for the company, and Chiao’s leadership has been instrumental in driving this change.
As the company looks to the future, it will be interesting to see how the new CEO will continue to build on the foundations laid by Chiao.
For now, the search for a successor is underway, and the company is focused on ensuring a seamless transition.
With Mah at the helm in the interim, the company is in good hands, and the future looks bright for SJ Group.
