Objectives of the Award

  • The Best Chief Executive Officer Award recognises leaders who have successfully guided their organisations to new heights within their respective industry segments while demonstrating excellence in corporate governance.

  • The Award aims to showcase exemplary leadership that envisions innovative business practices, inspires employees to exceed expectations, strengthens brand presence, and contributes meaningfully to industry development.

  • This Award highlights CEOs who exemplify strategic foresight, operational excellence, and a commitment to ethical governance, setting benchmarks for leadership within the corporate world.

Categories of the Award

The Award will be presented for the following categories of companies:

  • Companies with market capitalisation of S$1 billion and above
  • Companies with market capitalisation of S$300 million to less than S$1 billion
  • Companies with market capitalisation of less than S$300 million

Selection and Judging Process

The selection process involves three key stages:

Stage 1: Identification of potential candidates through nominations, media reports, industry insights, company performance, and rankings in the ASEAN Corporate Governance Scorecard and the Singapore Governance and Transparency Index. A preliminary shortlist is developed based on these inputs.

Stage 2: Further research and discreet inquiries are conducted on the shortlisted candidates, refining the list for final evaluation.

Stage 3: A panel of judges reviews and evaluates the final shortlist, considering the comprehensive research and predetermined criteria developed

Criteria

Governance

The CEO sets a tone of excellence in corporate governance through personal example, upholding a strict code of business ethics across the organisation. High standards of governance, controls, and accountability are integrated into business growth and expansion strategies. A balanced relationship between the board and management enhances overall effectiveness, positioning the CEO as a true advocate of best-in-class board practices within the firm and the broader business community.

Financial Performance

Exceptional, sustainable financial performance is demonstrated through consistent delivery of strong financial metrics over the years. Special recognition is given to leadership that navigates critical situations including driving successful turnarounds in the challenging geopolitical and macro-economic environments.

Strategy

The CEO articulates a clear vision and builds strategic frameworks to anticipate crises and lead transformative change. A high-impact comprehensive corporate strategy is developed by integrating market trends, competitive analysis, and other key factors, creating a sustainable competitive advantage for the company.

Operational Excellence

Operational excellence is pursued in digitalisation, people management, risk management, cybersecurity, and innovation, fostering a resilient and high-functioning organisation. The CEO's leadership results in significant improvements and transformational changes, building an efficient, agile and robust organisation.

Sustainability and Social Impact

A proactive approach to sustainability and social initiatives is integral to the CEO's leadership. Sustainability is embedded into business strategy and operations, with tangible results adhering to reporting guidelines. Champions corporate philanthropy, volunteerism, and community outreach to enhance societal well-being.