ICPAS appoints Lee Fook Chiew as CEO

Mr Lee was former Executive Vice President of Wah Hin & Co.

In a release, the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Singapore (ICPAS), the national accountancy body, has appointed Mr Lee Fook Chiew as its Chief Executive Officer. Mr Lee joins ICPAS at a time of significant development, with Singapore poised to be a global accountancy hub by 2020 and the Singapore Qualification Programme (Singapore QP) targeted to be launched in June 2013.

As mentioned by Minister of State for Finance and Transport, Mrs. Josephine Teo, ICPAS will play an important role in operationalising the Singapore QP, in addition to being an important partner in its design and implementation. The Singapore QP is an important step towards making Singapore a global accountancy hub. It will produce accountants with a professional qualification which is globally recognised and internationally portable.

In keeping abreast with developments in the accountancy profession, the qualification will enhance the current CPA Singapore designation which has served as a useful and important certification for our accountants in Singapore. The Singapore QP is also expected to broaden the talent pipeline, with graduates from non-accounting disciplines eligible to take up the post-university programme.

ICPAS President, Dr Ernest Kan said, “Fook Chiew has substantial experience in leadership positions in notable organisations. We’re delighted to have him onboard as CEO. He will focus on leading ICPAS towards its vision to be a globally recognised professional accountancy body. One key project is the launch of the Singapore QP. ICPAS will work closely with the Pro-Tem Singapore Accountancy Council (PSAC) to prepare the official roll-out of the Singapore QP in June 2013. In particular, we are very grateful for the strong support of Minister of State for Finance and Transport, Mrs. Josephine Teo, and ICPAS Adviser, Minister of State for Trade and Industry, Mr. Teo Ser Luck, as the Institute works with PSAC on the Singapore QP.”

Mr Lee said, “This is an exciting time for ICPAS and the profession. I’m looking forward to addressing both the challenges and opportunities as the Institute transforms itself to create and deliver greater value for our members, the profession and the community. The impending rollout of Singapore QP is a milestone project for ICPAS. We at ICPAS look forward to working with all our partners in developing the programme into a globally recognised mark of excellence of Singapore’s accountancy profession.”

Mr Lee has held key leadership positions in private and public sectors. Prior to joining ICPAS, he was Executive Vice President of Wah Hin & Co. Pte Ltd, a private investment holding company. Mr Lee also served at Infocomm Development Authority (IDA), with his last appointment being Chief Financial Officer & Senior Director (Corporate Development).

He also served as Chief Executive Officer of Infocomm Investments Pte Ltd, a fully-owned subsidiary of IDA. Mr Lee has also held several key leadership appointments with Sembcorp Industries Limited Singapore, his last appointment being Senior Vice President & Deputy Group Finance Director.

In the early part of his career, he was a member of the Singapore Government Administrative Service, and served as the Deputy Director of Industrial Policy & Manpower Development with the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI). 

Mr Lee graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Commerce & Administration (First Class Honours) from Victoria University of Wellington in New Zealand on a Singapore Government Scholarship.