Softlogic taps global expertise; announces key new appointments

THE Softlogic Group, one of the largest conglomerates in the country, has announced the appointments of Kong Leong Chan as Adviser to Chairman Ashok Pathirage, Terry O’Connor OBE as Chief Executive Officer of Odel PLC and Strategic Adviser to Chairman on Retail Sector, and Sid Solanki as Chief Executive Officer — Leisure Sector and Group Asset Management.

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Kong Leong Chan is an accomplished business leader with nearly 30 years of hands-on experience driving performance and transformation across large-scale operations, diverse teams, and complex markets. His proven track record spans multiple industries and geographies, consistently delivering substantial shareholder value through strategic leadership, operational excellence, and innovation.

As Regional Chief Executive Officer of the Shangri-La Group, Kong Leong oversaw a $ 1.5 billion business across 32 cities in 21 countries. During the unprecedented disruption of the COVID-19 pandemic, he demonstrated entrepreneurial agility and deep cross-functional expertise across F&B, marketing, HR, sales, product development, technology, and operations, empowering his teams to pivot swiftly and emerge more resilient.

Previously, as CEO of Suntec Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT), he led the successful turnaround of Suntec City Mall, which achieved the highest footfall and tenant sales growth among listed REITs. Equity analysts credited him as the "catalyst for change and improvement."Under his leadership, Suntec REIT's unit price reached an all-time high of $2.25-a record that remains unsurpassed. He concurrently served as Group Chief Digital Officer of ARA Group, where he spearheaded enterprise-wide digital transformation, driving innovation and adoption across business units.