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Former SMRT CEO Desmond Kuek to join UBS global wealth management team
Former SMRT Corp’s chief executive Desmond Kuek is joining Swiss investment bank UBS as divisional vice-chairman for global wealth management.
Kuek, who will be based in Singapore, will start work on 18 February, UBS said in a statement on Monday (4 February). He will report to UBS head of ultra-high net worth, Joe Stadler, and UBS Asia-Pacific president, Edmund Koh.
Prior to this, Kuek was President and Chief Executive Officer at SMRT Corp from 2012-2018. Kuek stepped down as CEO last April and was replaced by former Chief of Defence Force Neo Kian Hong.
His tenure at SMRT was marked by several major setbacks such as a tunnel flood that resulted in a 20-hour disruption in train services, a track accident that caused the deaths of two staff members, a train collision that injured 38 people, as well as an increasing frequency of breakdowns.
Before joining SMRT, Kuek served as Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Environment & Water Resources from 2010 to 2012. He was Singapore’s sixth Chief of Defence Force from 2007 to 2010, Chief of Army from 2003 to 2007, and Director of Joint Intelligence in the Singapore Armed Forces from 2000 to 2003.
He has served on the boards of Housing & Development Board, International Enterprise Singapore, Jurong Town Corporation, Defence Science & Technology Agency, Civil Service College and Singapore Technologies Engineering. He is also founder and Chairman at consultancy firm Genium & Co.
Kuek holds a Master of Arts (Engineering Science) from Oxford University, a Master in Public Administration from Harvard University, and is an alumnus of IMD Switzerland.
UBS said Kuek’s wealth of experience as an executive, government official and board member will be of great value in boosting relationships with existing and new clients, and growing its business across Asia Pacific.
Koh said, “Desmond is a great intellect and strategic thinker. He is tenacious; always calm under pressure and not afraid to take on the toughest challenges with commitment and perseverance.
“His rich and diverse range of experiences driving complex businesses through innovation and transformation will serve UBS well into its next chapter. ”
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