SJ Group CEO Sean Chiao to retire on July 31; company launches global search for successor

Surbana Jurong Group (SJ Group) has announced that Group CEO Sean Chiao will retire and step down from the company's board on July 31, ending a three-year tenure marked by organisational transformation and global integration.

The company said Chairman Chaly Mah will assume the role of Executive Chairman to oversee key operations while the board conducts a global search for Chiao's successor.

Chiao joined SJ Group as Group CEO in April 2023 after serving as CEO of Buildings and Places, a global business line at infrastructure consulting firm AECOM. During his tenure, he led the company's transformation strategy, including the launch of the One SJ initiative, which unified the group's businesses and brands under a shared vision and organisational culture.

SJ Group said Chiao also reshaped the company's operating model into a globally integrated structure, strengthened its senior leadership team and sharpened its focus on operational excellence as part of its ambition to become a leading global architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) player.

Reflecting on his tenure, Chiao said leading the organisation through a period of transformation had been a privilege.

"It has been a tremendous privilege to lead SJ through a transformative chapter in its history. Building One SJ and bringing our people together around our shared purpose is what I am most proud of," he said.

Chiao added that he was grateful to the board and employees for their support and was confident the company was well positioned for future growth.

Chairman Chaly Mah thanked Chiao for his leadership and contributions, saying they had helped position the group for long-term success.

"We thank Sean for his leadership and his contributions in positioning the group for future success, and wish him the very best in his future endeavours," Mah said, adding that the board and management remain focused on ensuring a smooth leadership transition.

Chiao succeeds former Group CEO Wong Heang Fine, who retired in September 2022. The position remained vacant for six months before Chiao assumed the role.

The leadership transition comes as SJ Group continues to strengthen its executive team. Earlier this month, the company announced the appointment of former Building and Construction Authority (BCA) CEO Kelvin Wong as Group Chief Commercial Officer and Region Head, Asia, effective July 1.

In his new role, Wong will report to the Group CEO and oversee the company's Asia business, which accounts for more than half of SJ Group's global workforce and over 60% of its projected global revenue in 2025.