Jennie Chua Kheng Yeng DUBC BBM PBM PPA(P) is a Singaporean businesswoman who is the co-founder of Beeworks, Inc. She was named one of Forbes Asia's "50 Women In the Mix" in 2013.[2] She has been called "Singapore's Grande Dame".[3]
Jennie Chua Kheng Yeng | |
|---|---|
| Born | 25 May 1944[1] |
| Alma mater | Cornell University (BS) Anglo-Chinese School Singapore Chinese Girls' School |
| Spouse |
Goh Kian Chee
(m. 1968; div. 1977) |
| Children | 2 |
| Chinese name | |
| Traditional Chinese | 蔡瓊瑩 |
| Simplified Chinese | 蔡琼莹 |
| Hanyu Pinyin | Cài Qióngyíng |
| IPA | [tsʰâɪ.tɕʰiʊ̌ŋ.ǐŋ] |
Early life and education
editChua was born in Batam, Indonesia and raised in the Tanglin area of Singapore.[4] She is the oldest of 12 children. Her father, Chua Kok Kuan, was a wealthy businessman who sold cloves and nutmeg, but lost his business when she was 10.[4]
Chua was educated at Singapore Chinese Girls' School[5] and started working as a teenager, as a typist and tutor.[6] After completing her A-levels at Anglo-Chinese School, she was awarded a scholarship to attend the Nanyang University, where she dropped out after a year to work as a teacher at St. Margaret's School.[7]
In 1968, together with her husband, Chua moved to upstate New York and studied at Cornell University. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science in hotel management.[7][8]
Career
editAfter graduation, Chua started working as a general manager at the Mandarin Hotel in Singapore. In 1977, she started working, for 11 years, at the Singapore Tourism Board (STB), as director. In 1988, she started working for Westin Hotels as a marketing director.
Chua became the first female general manager at Raffles Hotel in 1990. In 2003, she became the chief executive officer of Raffles Holdings but left Raffles Holdings in 2007. She became the chief executive officer of Ascott Group, a department of CapitaLand, she subsequently became the chief corporate officer for CapitaLand. She left the company in July 2012.
Chua is the co-founder of Beeworks.[8] Today, she is 40% of the company's shares. Her work is currently focused on the fast food market in Singapore.[3][8]
She is a former teacher at the Asian Institute of Tourism in the Philippines.[3] Chua is also Singapore's Ambassador to Mexico,[8] and former Ambassador to Slovakia.[9]
Personal life
editIn 1960, when she was 16, Chua met Goh Kian Chee, son of Goh Keng Swee. On 1 June 1968, the couple married and held their wedding at Bethesda (Katong) Church, but divorced in 1977.[8][10] The couple have two children.[5]
Awards and decorations
edit
Distinguished Service Order, in 2024.[11][12][13][14]
Public Service Star, in 2008.[15][16]
Public Service Medal, in 2004.[17][18]
Public Administration Medal (Silver), in 1984.[19][20]
.png){kind=small}
.png){kind=small}
.png){kind=small}
.png){kind=small}
References
edit- ^ "Jennie Chua marks 80th birthday in philanthropic style". The Business Times. 27 May 2024. Retrieved 27 December 2024.
- ^ "Forbes Asia's 50 Women In the Mix". Forbes Asia. Archived from the original on 5 March 2013. Retrieved 4 March 2013.
- ^ a b c Sevilla, Jan (28 December 2012). "What's cooking? Jennie Chua and Jollibee". Global Travel Industry News. Retrieved 5 March 2013.
- ^ a b "Nothing keeps Jennie Chua down". The Straits Times. 12 August 2012.
- ^ a b "1999 Jennie Chua – Her World Woman of The Year". womanoftheyear.herworldplus.com. Archived from the original on 2 September 2017. Retrieved 2 September 2017.
- ^ SWHF. "SINGAPORE WOMEN'S HALL OF FAME - Jennie Chua". www.swhf.sg. Retrieved 2 September 2017.
- ^ a b Bhalla, S. Tsering (18 October 1992). "The girl who had to grow up in a hurry". The Straits Times. p. 4.
- ^ a b c d e Wells, Jennifer Schultz (10 December 2012). "Hotelier Jennie Chua's New Challenge: Bringing Jollibee Fast Food to Singapore". Forbes. Retrieved 27 December 2024.
- ^ "From humble beginnings to a grande dame". People & Personalities. Plush. Archived from the original on 24 March 2014. Retrieved 5 March 2013.
- ^ "MR AND MRS GOH KIAN CHEE, BOTH 24, AFTER THEIR WEDDING AT BETHESDA (KATONG) CHURCH". nas.gov.sg. 1 June 1968. Retrieved 27 December 2024.
- ^ Goh, Yan Han (9 August 2024). "6,774 individuals to receive National Day honours". The Straits Times. Retrieved 27 December 2024.
- ^ Ler, Sean (9 August 2024). "URA chairman Peter Ho receives top honours in this year's National Day awards". AsiaOne. Retrieved 27 December 2024.
- ^ Lee, Nian Tjoe (4 November 2024). "Long-serving imam recognised at National Awards Investiture for strengthening interfaith harmony". The Straits Times. Retrieved 27 December 2024.
- ^ "PMO | Recipients". Prime Minister's Office. 22 November 2021. Retrieved 15 December 2024.
- ^ "Honoured for outstanding work". The Straits Times. 9 August 2008. p. 92. Retrieved 27 December 2024.
- ^ "PMO | Recipients". Prime Minister's Office. 22 November 2021. Retrieved 15 December 2024.
- ^ "National Day Award Winners 2004". The Straits Times. 10 August 2004. p. 6. Retrieved 27 December 2024.
- ^ "PMO | Recipients". Prime Minister's Office. 22 November 2021. Retrieved 15 December 2024.
- ^ "Hon awarded Order of Temasek". The Business Times. 9 August 1984. Retrieved 27 December 2024.
- ^ "Republic of Singapore Government Gazette Extraordinary". PMO. 9 August 1984. Retrieved 27 December 2024.