Who is Kenneth Goi, son of the ‘Popiah King’ and PSC’s next CEO?

[SINGAPORE] Kenneth Goi Kok Ming has long been immersed in the family business. The eldest son of Singapore’s “Popiah King” has held senior leadership roles in several Goi-linked companies, building decades of experience within the group’s ecosystem.

On May 5, the 53-year-old will take over as CEO of PSC Corporation , which manufactures and distributes a range of fast-moving consumer products. He will also be redesignated as an executive director, a pivot from his current role as a non-executive, non-independent director.

His appointment comes as the company enjoys steady momentum, with its share price having risen more than 25 per cent in the past year. PSC has a market capitalisation of S$242.7 million.

The business remains closely tied to the Goi family. His father, Sam Goi, is PSC’s executive chairman and a substantial shareholder. The senior Goi, widely known as the “Popiah King”, is also chairman of food manufacturer Tee Yih Jia, best known for its popiah skins.

Running the family business

The younger Goi’s career has ranged over multiple sectors within the family network. He spent 14 years as executive director and chief operating officer of investment holding firm GSH Corporation , where he helped shape its property strategy and identified premium investments in prime locations.

Earlier in his career, he spent two years at Tee Yih Jia from 1997, including time at its production plant in China.

He later ventured out to establish Acelink Logistics in 2000. The logistics firm has since built a niche in third-party cold-chain services, expanding to Asia, Europe, the United States and Australia.

Beyond these roles, he continues to hold multiple appointments in the family’s network of businesses; these include non-executive directorships at electronic and consumer product company Serial System and metals firm Union Steel, as well as an executive directorship at Tee Yih Jia.

He said his deep involvement is driven in part by a sense of responsibility towards his father and the family enterprise.

SEE ALSO

Popiah King’s new Tee Yih Jia factory has one of Asia’s largest, fully automated warehouses

Popiah King Sam Goi’s son to be CEO of PSC Corp

In an interview with Singapore Tatler in 2016, he said: “I suddenly realised my father has aged a lot. That was when I decided I had to make plans about what I should be doing for the business.”

Personal life and family

The responsibility of continuing the legacy is shared among the Goi siblings. His eldest sister, Goi Lang Peng, was, from 2019 to 2023, a non-executive director at KOP Limited, a company also controlled by their father.

His second sister, Laureen Goi Lang Ling, is a non-executive director at Yeo Hiap Seng and Yamada Green Resources, and is also general manager of Tee Yih Jia Group.

Their younger brother, Ben Goi, who died from a stroke at age 43 in 2019, used to be chief operating officer of Tee Yih Jia.

From an early age, the siblings were immersed in the business, starting from the ground up – stocking supermarket shelves and making deliveries. For Kenneth Goi, that hands-on exposure was to leave a lasting impression.

“My dad gave me many opportunities to learn the ropes of business while growing up. In fact, the Tee Yih Jia factory … was my playground,” he said in 2019, upon being presented the Entrepreneur of the Year award at the Asia Pacific Enterprise Awards.

Outside of business, he is active in community service as a member of the Community Development Council for the South East District. He was awarded the Public Service Medal in 2018 for his contributions, including his role as patron of Braddell Heights Community Club.

PSC Corp’s shares closed 3.7 per cent, or S$0.015 higher, at S$0.425 on Friday.

ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY DEON LOKE