Surbana Jurong group CEO Sean Chiao to step down; search for successor under way

[SINGAPORE] Temasek-owned Surbana Jurong (SJ) Group announced on Friday (Jun 26) that its group CEO Sean Chiao will retire on Jul 31, after three years at the helm. 

SJ Group chairman Chaly Mah said in a statement that the board has commenced a “global search” for Chiao’s successor.

Mah will assume the role of executive chairman in the interim to manage the group’s key operations. “The board and management team are focused on ensuring a seamless transition,” he added. 

Chiao joined SJ Group as group CEO in April 2023. 

The group said that it made significant progress in becoming a leading global architecture, engineering and construction player under his charge. 

This includes steering SJ Group’s transformation agenda and anchoring its enterprise approach, unifying its businesses and brands around a shared vision and culture framework. 

SJ Group added that Chiao “strengthened and refreshed the senior leadership team through a combination of high-calibre internal appointments and external hires”.

A recent addition to SJ Group was former Building and Construction Authority CEO Kelvin Wong, who was appointed group chief commercial officer and regional head for Asia. 

In this role from Jul 1, Wong will lead its commercial strategy across the “full client life cycle”, from market positioning and business development to contract client management. 

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He will also oversee the Asia market, which accounted for more than half the group’s global workforce and more than 60 per cent of its global revenue in 2025, the group said. 

SJ Group credited Chiao with reshaping the group’s operating model into a globally integrated one, and sharpening its focus on operational excellence. 

Chiao said he will retire from the role “knowing that the group has the talent, the global platform and the ambition to go even further as it builds a resilient, regenerative future”. 

SJ Group said that it remains well-positioned to deliver on its strategic priorities while upholding its commitment to clients, colleagues and communities around the world.