The Singapore Institute of Directors (SID) has announced the appointment of Emily Poon as its new Chief Executive Officer (CEO), following an extensive search process. Poon will join as CEO-designate on 1 March and officially take over from Terence Quek on 1 May.
Poon brings over 20 years of experience to the role, having previously served as President, Asia Pacific, at Ogilvy Public Relations. Her extensive background includes shaping governance standards across corporate, academic, and public sectors. She is actively involved with the Industry Advisory Council at the National University of Singapore, the Families for Life Council, and the executive committee of Singapore Management University’s Leading Executives and Directors Alumni Group.
SID Chair Yeoh Oon Jin expressed enthusiasm about Poon’s appointment, stating, “We were looking for someone with the right attributes to take SID forward: industry experience across geographies, passion about our mission, and a firm commitment in the belief that SID has an important role to play in raising standards of governance here and in the region.”
Poon, who has been a member and Accredited Director of SID, said, “I look forward to working with the Council and team at the Singapore Institute of Directors to further our mission at a time when the role of directors is transforming and becoming even more critical in a rapidly changing world.”
During Quek’s tenure, SID’s membership grew from 3,300 to over 5,500, and several initiatives were launched, including the SID Accreditation Programme and SID Board Academy. Quek remarked on his time at SID, highlighting the organisation’s growth and expressing confidence in Poon’s leadership.
Poon aims to build on the foundation laid by Quek, focusing on supporting SID members and expanding the institute’s influence both locally and internationally.
