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Things to know about Kwek family members in the business
The Straits Times
|February 28, 2025
Executive chairman of property giant City Developments Limited (CDL) Kwek Leng Beng, 84, has made public a rift with his son Sherman Kwek, 49, filing a lawsuit on Feb 26 to deal with the "attempted coup" of CDL's board.
More than 15 family members are involved in the Hong Leong Group, the conglomerate that controls CDL, according to Forbes. Here are some things to know about Mr Kwek Leng Beng and his family:
1 KWEK LENG BENG IS REGARDED AS ONE OF SINGAPORE'S MOST SUCCESSFUL HOTELIERS AND BUSINESSMEN
Singaporean billionaire Kwek Leng Beng is the executive chairman of conglomerate Hong Leong Group and property developer CDL. Under his leadership, CDL grew to become a major hotel and property developer, expanding beyond Singapore.
The developer owns several luxury hotels in Singapore, including boutique hotel M Social, St Regis and W Singapore. One of Singapore's newest hotels in Orchard, The Singapore Edition, which opened in February 2024, is also his brainchild. Mr Kwek and his wife Cecilia Kwek reportedly attended the official opening of the hotel.
2 HIS LATE FATHER KWEK HONG PNG INITIALLY TASKED HIM TO GROW THE KING'S HOTEL (NOW KNOWN AS COPTHORNE KING'S)
Mr Kwek Leng Beng's father had wanted him, as the eldest son, to join the family business.
Trained as a lawyer in London, Mr Kwek Leng Beng got into the family business in the 1960s and focused on running CDL's operations in Singapore.
Together with his father and his brother Kwek Leng Joo, they bought a controlling stake in a loss-making CDL in 1971.
This story is from the February 28, 2025 edition of The Straits Times.
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